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today’s worldwide shortline family of Genesee & Wyoming Industries. When the original G&W considered diesels, they turned to nearby General Electic in Erie, Pa., and acquired 80-ton switcher No. 20 in 1944. By 1960, the switcher had been sold
to construction contractor Hunkin- Conkey of Cleveland, Ohio. One of three locomotives that worked on-site during construction of the Kinzua Dam in Pennsylvania, it remained in storage nearby after completion of the project. A proposal to operate a tourist train between Warren, Pa., and the dam site failed, and the locomotive was sold through a broker by 1986. No. 20 made its way to Youngstown,
Ohio, and served the local steel industry. At various times, the GE centercab worked for Standard Slag, Lafarge
Corp., and Penn Ohio Logistics. Upon retirement, No. 20 was moved to the dead line at McDonald Steel, home of Larry’s Truck & Electric. Donated to the Youngstown Steel Heritage preservation group three years ago, it was later traded to the Lake Shore Railway Museum in North East, Pa. Volunteers from Youngstown Steel Heritage and Lake Shore Railway Museum worked together with riggers from Diamond Steel to orchestrate the move from Ohio to Pennsylvania. Cranes were used to lift the locomotive up and onto a heavy-duty flat car, assisted by YSH’s former U.S. Steel Alco S-2. The unit was in transit the week of July 13, arriving at LSRM on July 22. No. 20 was off-loaded and safely placed on rail at the museum on July 26. According to LSRM’s Ray Grabowski,
Jr., one of the two Cummins diesel engines is siezed. A replacement engine has been acquired, and volunteers will make repairs to the other. The museum will restore No. 20 to its early Genesee & Wyoming paint scheme and add the unit to their “Locomotives that Dad and Grandad Built Collection.” Given LSRM’s close proximity to the GE plant in Erie, many visitors and volunteers alike have strong connections to the local industry. The special collection includes a number of GE switchers, road engines, and former South Shore “Little Joe” electrc No. 802. Volunteers are seeking donations
to offset the cost of the move before attempting the mechanical and cosmetic restoration work. For more information, please visit the museum’s web site at
www.lakeshorerailway.com.
First G&W Diesel to Lake Shore Museum
Riggers from Diamond Steel have just cut the slings loose from the locomotive after two 150-ton cranes lifted it free of the rails. It will be lowered onto a QTTX heavy-duty freight car for the move to Lake Shore Railway Museum in North East, Pa. The GE 80-ton switcher was the first diesel purchased by shortline Genesee & Wyoming in 1944. No. 20 was later sold to the construction contractor that built the Kinzua Dam. It ended up at Larry’s Truck & Electric where it was donated to the Youngstown Steel Heritage Foundation. The locomotive was traded to LSRM, and moved to Pennsylvania in July 2016.
PHOTOS BY NICK HOVEY
From Skokie to Seashore
General Electric has donated Chicago Transit Authority No. 1 to the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine. Arriving on July 21, this experimental test bed had been at GE’s Erie, Pa., plant since 1974. Part of a fleet of high-speed cars built by St. Louis Car Co. with some salvaged parts from PCC trolleys, CTA No. 1 help inaugurate Skokie Swift service in 1964. Volunteers plan to restore the car to its original 1960s CTA appearance.
PHOTOS BY ERIC GILMAN
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