Twin Cities Zephyr passes near limestone outcroppings near the bluffs along the Mississippi River in
Western Wisconsin, sometime in the early 50s. This Broadway Limited E7 with sound and DCC owned
by Dennis Hamilton
The Burlington Zephyr passes over the Central Valley bridge at Little Falls on the West Central route.
A CB&Q GP-9 hauls a tank train through Crawford on the West Central. This locomotive owned by Tom Hicks.
A Milwaukee Road SD-9 hauls its train past the limestone cut below Bridgeport on the West Central
mainline. This Proto 2000 locomotive owned by Jim Hunter, whose father and father-in-law were
engineers on the Milwaukee Road.
A Santa Fe gas-electric (doodlebug) passes the area below the wooden trestle on the Summit branch line.
Doodlebugs provided valuable service on low-traffic routes since they had passenger and baggage areas on
board and could pull a couple of freight cars. This freed railroads from the expense of using a steam
locomotive and crew for the 4 or 5 car train the Doodlebug replaced. This Bachmann Spectrum owned
by Henry Bangsberg.
Does the West Central RR have any weird stuff? You Bet!!! This CD40 7 axle monster is from the
Bangsberg Skunk Works. The West Central acquired a DD40 that had been wrecked and decided to
rebuild it for heavy freight service in the Mt. Post region. The lead truck was scavenged from an Alco
PA and allowed the engine to be shortened by 1' to increase tracking ability on curves without
significantly reducing tractive effort. The train is passing the town of Bridgeport. (Notice the famous
Aluminum Step Ladder Building, a landmark in the Bridgeport area.)
A set of Western Pacific FT locomotives speed their freight accross a trestle over Redwood Gulch on the
West Central. These locomotives owned by Jason Dennison.
Another camera angle on the same trestle.
The Burlington Route Zephyr passes the switch tower at Gilbertson. This Broadway Limited E7
owned by Dennis Hamilton.
The CB&Q Zephyr pauses for a portrait on the double track near the Portland curve on the West Central.
Steam on the WC
Home
contact us