July 30, 2015
Hol - As our FW&D expert, may be you can shed a little light on the
EMD SW1 in the attached image sent to me by retired Q/BN executive Earl
Currie. This ex-Q switcher is reportedly still in existence working at a
Holcim/Lafarge cement mill north of Fort Collins, CO. Hope it eventually finds
home in a railroad museum.
A brief Internet search reveals that EMD built it in June
1939 (construction number 899) as FW&D 604, it later became CB&Q
9138, leased to M&IB&B (Missouri & Illinois Bridge & Belt
RR of Alton, IL) as their 100, then back to CB&Q 9138, then sold on
September 24, 1970 to Dundee Cement near Hannibal, MO.
Might be one of the oldest, if not the oldest, existing Q diesel
switchers still working on an industrial railroad. Can you add any thing
to this information? As FW&D 604, was it among the first of their
diesels when delivered in 1939? I assume it was a passenger station
switcher. Correct? Best Regards - Louis
Louis Zadnichek II
Fairhope, AL