A West Central 0-8-0 steam switcher is hard at work in the 1950s delivering cars to various industries. The 0-8-0s were capable of moving almost any train and yet be able to move into quite tight curves and turnouts. They served up until the late 50s. One is preserved operational, #1080, which is the one in the photo. Unfortunately, this locomotive has one bent driver axle when it was dropped from a crane. It still works, but has a slight noticeable wobble on one driver. Railfans still love to watch and photograph her at work. The large buildings in the background were constructed by club member Wally Schuster.
A West Central light mikado (2-8-2) hauls its tonnage through farm country somewhere in Wisconsin in the 1950s. This section of the line (now called Hunter's Loop) has been moved and no longer goes past this farm, and a tunnel nearby was eliminated. The West Central railroad had a number of these light
USRA Mikados and were used throughout the system. The West Central also had the USRA heavy Mikes, the only railroad to have both heavy and light versions.
This engine was made by Oriental Limited (Powerhouse) and painted by
club member Dennis Hamilton.
A West Central mountain (4-8-2) type locomotive blasts through a tunnel sometime in the 1940s. The West Central bought several of these from the C&O to add to their existing fleet of these USRA designs. As 4-8-4s and diesels took over much of the passenger power needs, the mountain-types were drafted for fast freight duties, for which they seemed well suited. This model is an early brass Bowser with a cast brass boiler. A real heavy weight! It has a Northwest Short Line can motor and runs like a dream. It has pulled 55 cars up a 2% grade with no problem.
A side view of a 4-8-2 marching through Wisconsin farm country. The
C & O markings were still on the tender at the time of this photo in the 1940s. This locomotive was spared the cutting torch after the end of steam operations and is used for steam excursion runs. Model painted by member Dennis Hamilton.
A West Central N-1 Class 4-8-4 blasts its way up Andrews Hill and across the Redwood Gulch
trestle. These powerful locomotives had 70 inch drivers and were used mostly for fast freight.
These were the largest of West Central's 2 classes of Northern type steam locomotives, but still
not considered large in comparison to many other 4-8-4s of the time. The West Central had 35
of these and were used heavily during WWII and the Korean conflict. They were retired at the
end of steam operation in 1959 & 1960, all of them having over 2 million miles of service.
AHM brass model (B&M 4-8-2) converted to 4-8-4 and painted by member Dennis Hamilton.
A West Central Mk-1 class light USRA Mikado heads out after coaling up on the Bridgeport, Port Arthur, and Plainview subdivision. The West Central had 50 of these ubiquitous locomotives on the roster, and they were used system-wide, without restriction. #2317 shown was rebuilt after a wreck seriously damaged her after dropping off a trestle. The engineer and fireman were killed, but West Central electrician, Jim Hunter, miraculously emerged unscathed. IHC model modified and painted by Dennis Hamilton.
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