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Columbus & Greenville Railway
EMD Yard Switchers
By 1972, a struggling Columbus & Greenville was on the cusp of being absorbed into the newly formed Illinois Central Gulf system.
Given its weak financial status and its pending absorption, it would have otherwise been a strange time to add motive power to the roster,
except that in late 1971 the railroad's primary road power -- the sturdy SD28 pair -- was involved in a major grade crossing accident.
During their hiatus, the C&G leased from its pending parent a trio of small SW1 switchers to augment its switching power (with the Baldwins now serving temporary road duty).
Impressed by the switchers, the C&G promptly purchased four other SW1 from the Terminal Railway Association of St. Louis.
The little red switchers were quickly stationed in Columbus, Greenwood, and Greenville -- spelling the end of the line for the two Whitcombs assigned to the latter two locations.
After the CAGY regained local independence from the ICG, many of the SW1s served the new railroad well into the 1980s.
#501
Columbus & Greenville #501
Greenville, Ms / Jul 1972 / JCH
Columbus & Greenville #501
- builder:Electro Motive Division
- model:SW1
- type:B-B yard switcher
- built:Jun 1940, EMD #1076
- series:660 produced 1939-53
- engine:EMD 567 (6 cyls. 600 hp)
- notes:
- blt Terminal Rwy Assoc of St Louis #501
to Columbus & Greenville, 1972
Greenville, Ms / Jul 1972 / JCH
Terminal Rwy Assoc of St Louis #501
St Louis, Mo / 1971 / collection
#505
Columbus & Greenville #505
Greenwood, Ms / Jul 1972 / JCH
Columbus & Greenville #505
- builder:Electro Motive Division
- model:SW1
- type:B-B yard switcher
- built:Oct 1947, EMD #5022
- series:660 produced 1939-53
- engine:EMD 567 (6 cyls. 600 hp)
- notes:
- blt Terminal Rwy Assoc of St Louis #505
to Columbus & Greenville, 1972
Greenwood, Ms / JCH
Greenwood, Ms / JCH
Greenwood, Ms / JCH
Greenwood, Ms / Jul 1972 / JCH
collection
Terminal Rwy Assoc of St Louis #505
St Louis, Mo / 1971 / collection
#506
Columbus & Greenville #506
Columbus, Ms / 1973 / collection
Columbus & Greenville #506
- builder:Electro Motive Division
- model:SW1
- type:B-B yard switcher
- built:Oct 1947, EMD #5023
- series:660 produced 1939-53
- engine:EMD 567 (6 cyls. 600 hp)
- notes:
- blt Terminal Rwy Assoc of St Louis #506
to Columbus & Greenville, 1972
sold, 1981
#508
Columbus & Greenville #508
Columbus, Ms / Jun 1972 / JCH
Columbus & Greenville #508
- builder:Electro Motive Division
- model:SW1
- type:B-B yard switcher
- built:Oct 1947, EMD #5025
- series:660 produced 1939-53
- engine:EMD 567 (6 cyls. 600 hp)
- notes:
- blt Terminal Rwy Assoc of St Louis #508
to Columbus & Greenville, 1972
to United Cement, Artesia MS, 1981
Columbus, Ms / Jun 1972 / JCH
Columbus, Ms / Jun 1972 / JCH
Columbus, Ms / 1973 / collection
Terminal Rwy Assoc of St Louis #508
St Louis, Mo / 1971 / collection
#524
Columbus & Greenville #524
Columbus, Ms / 1985 / collection
Columbus & Greenville #524
- builder:Electro Motive Division
- model:SW1
- type:B-B yard switcher
- built:Jun 1946, EMD #3295
- series:660 produced 1939-53
- engine:EMD 567 (6 cyls. 600 hp)
- notes:
- ex Illinois Central #611
to Columbus & Greenville, 1972
#525
Columbus & Greenville #525
Greenwood, Ms / 1983 / collection
Columbus & Greenville #525
- builder:Electro Motive Division
- model:SW1
- built:Sep 1941, EMD #1398
- series:660 produced 1939-53
- engine:EMD 567 (6 cyls. 600 hp)
- notes:
- blt Elgin, Joliet & Eastern #240
to Fernwood, Columbia & Gulf #600
to Illinois Central Gulf #618
to Columbus & Greenville, 1972
Links / Sources
- Louis R. Saillard, Delta Route: A History of the C&G Railway - First Edition (1981) 104-5
- Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis company website
- Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis Historical and Technical Society