Nostalgia & History > Where was Roger Again Please?

These three slides were taken in sequence in July 1982.  Given that Roger did some CNW shooting in Wisconsin that month, that should be a hint.

Thanks,
Marty Bernard

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It looks like Escanaba, Michigan to me.

Dennis

Great shots, but a question.  I believe I have seen the response to this elsewhere, but it escapes me now. What do the letters AAA represent on the cab side, bottom?  TIA. Ben

Thanks Dennis.  I searched flickr on Escanaba and found that coaling tower seen in the distance in one of Roger's shots.

Marty

Definitely Escanaba..... the Big Alcos worked there on the "Ore Division".

ns2557 Wrote:
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> Great shots, but a question.  I believe I have
> seen the response to this elsewhere, but it
> escapes me now. What do the letters AAA represent
> on the cab side, bottom?  TIA. Ben

The letter indicate the axle load and service class of the locomotive.

From the April-May 1970 issue of Extra 2200 South magazine:

C - Switchers and branch line service with axle load of less than 49,750 lbs
B - Switchers and branch line service with axle load of 49,750 to 55,000 lbs
A - Heavy switchers and passenger service with axle load of 56,000 to 62,000 lbs
AA - B-B road units with axle load of 59,000 to 65,000 lbs
AAA - C-C road units with axle load of 60,000 to 65,000 lbs

This system may have been revised as GP40 and GP50s were marked AAA.  SD38-2s were marked AA, which doesn't fit the descriptions either.

The C628s were heavy engines at 404,000 and 408,000 lbs gross load on rail.  That would be 68,000 lbs per axle.

Dennis

Yes, Escanaba.   Was there in 1956 and have a photo of a live 0-6-0, but no C628s then.

I lived in Northbrook, Illinois and saw these crossing over the Milwaukee's main just South of Techny, Ill. When they first showed up on the C&NW, they ran in the N&W blue paint.  Then I think some were repainted just dark green, before they got the full green and yellow treatment.  That would have to be some time from 1962 - 1966 when I watched them from my high school front windows.  They were running on freights between Proviso, and wherever they headed toward Milwaukee.

 I didn't get very good grades in most of my classes that faced the tracks.

Craig Hanson
Vay, Idaho