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WI&M Equipment

WI&M EquipmentAs a small railroad with its roots in the logging industry, the WI&M owned an interesting collection of equipment over the years. In the following rosters, I have included links to photographs of the various units (where available). The information shown here comes from several sources including Donald Robertson’s Encyclopedia of Western Railroad History and e-mail discussions on the WI&M mailing list.

Steam Locomotives

No.BuilderTypeB/NBuiltNotes
1Schnectady4-6-0406841906On display in Potlatch, Idaho
2Schnectady4-6-0406851906Scrapped 1952
20Rogers2-8-0406861906Scrapped 1952(?)
21Rogers2-8-0406871906Scrapped 1957(?)
22Richmond2-8-0479811910Sold to US Army 1939
23Richmond2-6-2479801910Sold to Potlatch Lumber Co. 12/31/1909
100Lima2T Shay16561906Sold to Potlatch Lumber Co. 12/31/1909
101Lima3T Shay16701906Sold to Potlatch Lumber Co. 12/31/1909
102Lima3T Shay5911900Sold to Potlatch Lumber Co. 12/31/1909
103Lima3T Shay18061907Sold to Potlatch Lumber Co. 12/31/1909

Diesel Locomotives

No.BuilderTypeHPBuiltB/NRetiredNotes
30AlcoS366010/19507839503/1964Sold to Tacoma Belt and renumbered #907
Sold to Brandon Corp. (Omaha, Nebraska) and scrapped
66AlcoHH66066009/19396908903/1964Originally M&StL D939
Acquired by WI&M in 09/1956
Sold to Glacier Sand and Gravel (Steilacoom, Washington)
Scrapped early 1990’s

The Milwaukee Road Era

After the WI&M was sold to the Milwaukee Land Co. in April 1962, the Milwaukee Road took over the operation of the line. WI&M locomotives #30 and #66 remained in service until March 1964, when the first Milwaukee Road locomotives were put into service on the WI&M. The Milwaukee Road units included:

No.BuilderType ClassHPBuiltB/NRetiredNotes
280EMDGP917.5-ERS175005/19592527512/1982In use on WI&M in April, June 1968;
Shown in undated photo, p. 43, in Sept. 1975 issue of Model Railroader
281EMDGP917.5-ERS175005/19592527612/1982First used on WI&M 03/1964
Also in use on WI&M in June 1972
282EMDGP917.5-ERS175005/19592527712/1982In use on WI&M in July 1968
283EMDGP917.5-ERS175005/19592527812/1982In use on WI&M in June 1968
284EMDGP917.5-ERS175005/19592527912/1982In use on WI&M in April 1968
289EMDGP917.5-ERS175005/19592528412/1982In use on WI&M in July 1968, Sept. 1979
291EMDGP917.5-ERS175005/19592528612/1982First used on WI&M 04/1964
295EMDGP917.5-ERS175005/19592529012/1982In use on WI&M in April 1968
305EMDGP917.5-ERS175005/19592530012/1982First used on WI&M 03/1964

Source: The above locomotive data is from Fred Hyde’s “All-Time Milwaukee Road Diesel Locomotive List”. Unless otherwise noted, the information about dates of service on the WI&M is from e-mail messages posted to the WI&M mailing list.

Railcars

The WI&M had several railcars over the years. The first was a red Model T Ford with a small trailer, built in the WI&M shops sometime in the early 1930’s. It apparently didn't last long, being somewhat light and frail. The “Bug”, #10, was also built in the WI&M shops on a Studebaker body/frame, was army green, and also pulled a trailer. It ran from 1932 through 1937, when it was replaced by #11, the Potlatcher. The Potlatcher was a gas-powered railcar built for the WI&M by Fairmont that served until the mid-1950’s when the WI&M discontinued passenger service.

Source: Information on the railcars provided by Tom Burg, the WI&M mailing list, and the September 1975 issue of Model Railroader.

Cabooses

No.Notes
WI&M X-1Served as a depot at Deary, Idaho before being moved to a private residence; currently on display at Rueppel's museum in Deary
WI&M X-2Used as a maintenance/tool shed at Harvard, Idaho until the Burlington Northern took over operations on the WI&M
WI&M X-3Apparently existed only briefly during World War II; disposition unknown
WI&M X-4Ex-Northern Pacific "shorty"; now used as a summer cabin on Lake Coeur d'Alene in northern Idaho
WI&M X-5Also an ex-Northern Pacific "shorty"; disposition unknown
MILW 016013Steel cupola Milwaukee Road caboose; a photograph of this caboose appeared in the Sept. 1975 issue of Model Railroader magazine, p. 46.
One source indicates that this caboose is still in existence, serving as a home office for its current owner on an island off the West coast of Washington.

Source: Most of the above information on the cabooses was provided Tom Burg, either through personal communications or through the WI&M mailing list.


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