Nostalgia & History > Switcher Saturday at EMD Plant in McCook, IL

Yesterday I posted some of Roger Puta's photos from the 25,000 unit produced celebration on October 6, 1962. He also took photos of a couple of switchers on the plant grounds.

1 and 2. EMD 7073, a three axle job. My guess is this was made for another country and the deal fell through so EMD put it to work. What's your take?

2. EMD SW7 105

Enjoy,
Marty Bernard



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/22/17 12:21 by MartyBernard.

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It looks kind of like an export G8, but it has 3 axles.

TJY

icancmp193 Wrote:
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> It looks kind of like an export G8, but it has 3
> axles.
>
> TJY

I did a quick search and a Wiki article indicates the 7037 is indeed a prototype for an export model, a GM6W, that had very limited sales. The 7037 apparently spent its entire life within about a mile radius working the EMD plant and then the Pielet Brothers plant next door.

Milwaukee Wrote:
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> icancmp193 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > It looks kind of like an export G8, but it has
> 3
> > axles.
> >
> > TJY
>
> I did a quick search and a Wiki article indicates
> the 7037 is indeed a prototype for an export
> model, a GM6W, that had very limited sales. The
> 7037 apparently spent its entire life within about
> a mile radius working the EMD plant and then the
> Pielet Brothers plant next door.

Pielet Brothers was NOT "next door", but across the three track main line of the IHB. Pielet Brothers Scrap yard, was adjacent to the HUGE Reynolds Aluminum factory, which was also north of the three track IHB/B&OCT/BRC main line. Thus, no EMD plant switcher ever left the property of the McCook plant.

While it was likely a failed sale, it's possible also the unit was an experimental locomotive. I would imagine any creation by EMD would need to be tested.

I'm thinking the poster meant that after completing it's career with EMD it was sold to Pielet and worked at the scrap yard before being turned into razor blades itself.

dlh Wrote:
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> I'm thinking the poster meant that after
> completing it's career with EMD it was sold to
> Pielet and worked at the scrap yard before being
> turned into razor blades itself.


That was my take on the post.

Dick Samuels

dlh Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm thinking the poster meant that after
> completing it's career with EMD it was sold to
> Pielet and worked at the scrap yard before being
> turned into razor blades itself.

I seriously doubt that. Back in those days, units for trade-in came to the EMD McCook plant first, delivered by either IHB or B&OCT into the receiving yard inside the plant, The EMD plant switcher/switchers, then moved the units, as required, into the Wreck Bay, on the north side of the main plant. The Wreck Bay would then remove those major components needed for complete re-manufacture and used in a specific customer's "new" unit as part of an LRO (Locomotive Replacement Order) sale. After each unit was stripped of "the good stuff" the EMD plant switcher switched it out of the Wreck Bay, and placed in the out-bound yard, and the B&OCT or IHB would then take the hulks out of the McCook Plant, and switch them into Pielet Brothers Scrap yard.

As the LRO trade-in business rapidly increased, in the middle to later 1960s, that EMD then changed to having ALL the trade-in units shipped directly to Pielet Brothers, and paid THEM to remove all the good stuff, and truck it in bulk back over to the EMD McCook Plant. When I was promoted in to the Sales Engineering Department, at the McCook offices (November 1971), I was placed "in charge" of straightening up the total inventory mess of the traded in units to Pielet Bros. What a total mess it was!!!! At any rate, I got to know Sam and Art Pielet pretty well, even though they were REALLY gruff men. Once the realized that I was there to help THEM, we all got along quite well. I must admit that I never saw ANY operating diesel units with their scrap yard, as what ever needed to be moved around was done with a VERY large front-end loader, since it never mattered what got bashed, since EVERYTHING was scrap anyway!

7037 is RARE!!! What a catch!!!
Bob

I for one would not want to mess with 7073's brakeman!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/22/17 16:00 by 4489.

4489 Wrote:
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> I for one would not want to mess with 7073's
> brakeman!

Although quite a large man, he was a real "pussy cat". We all used to go out for a "few beers" at Sabin's Restaurant, in Countryside on "old Route 66". If that name "Sabin" sounds familiar, John Sabin was related to the famous Nick Sabin, head coach in the NFL, and the Sabin family is still famous today in the football world. The place was quite the "hangout", with great food & beer. One of the Locomotive Testers, who went to high School with Hall of Fame, Dick Butkus always joined our group. When Dick Butkus was broadcasting Chicago Bears football games in Chicago, Dick would also join us on Friday nights, since he flew into town on Friday to prepare for the game on Sunday. What a GREAT bunch of guys!!!!

EMDSW-1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> dlh Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I'm thinking the poster meant that after
> > completing it's career with EMD it was sold to
> > Pielet and worked at the scrap yard before
> being
> > turned into razor blades itself.
>
>
> That was my take on the post.
>
> Dick Samuels


You two both get the prize for correctly understanding my intended message.

HotWater Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> dlh Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I'm thinking the poster meant that after
> > completing it's career with EMD it was sold to
> > Pielet and worked at the scrap yard before
> being
> > turned into razor blades itself.
>
> I seriously doubt that. Back in those days, units
> for trade-in came to the EMD McCook plant first,
> delivered by either IHB or B&OCT into the
> receiving yard inside the plant, The EMD plant
> switcher/switchers, then moved the units, as
> required, into the Wreck Bay, on the north side of
> the main plant. The Wreck Bay would then remove
> those major components needed for complete
> re-manufacture and used in a specific customer's
> "new" unit as part of an LRO (Locomotive
> Replacement Order) sale. After each unit was
> stripped of "the good stuff" the EMD plant
> switcher switched it out of the Wreck Bay, and
> placed in the out-bound yard, and the B&OCT or IHB
> would then take the hulks out of the McCook Plant,
> and switch them into Pielet Brothers Scrap yard.
>
> As the LRO trade-in business rapidly increased, in
> the middle to later 1960s, that EMD then changed
> to having ALL the trade-in units shipped directly
> to Pielet Brothers, and paid THEM to remove all
> the good stuff, and truck it in bulk back over to
> the EMD McCook Plant. When I was promoted in to
> the Sales Engineering Department, at the McCook
> offices (November 1971), I was placed "in charge"
> of straightening up the total inventory mess of
> the traded in units to Pielet Bros. What a total
> mess it was!!!! At any rate, I got to know Sam and
> Art Pielet pretty well, even though they were
> REALLY gruff men. Once the realized that I was
> there to help THEM, we all got along quite well. I
> must admit that I never saw ANY operating diesel
> units with their scrap yard, as what ever needed
> to be moved around was done with a VERY large
> front-end loader, since it never mattered what got
> bashed, since EVERYTHING was scrap anyway!

Thanks for this very informative reply on trade in locomotives.


Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA