| Photographer R. T. Smart caught #309 in Green Bay, August 1963.
Kewaunee, Green Bay & Western #309 was not quite seven years old when this photo was taken. The locomotive shows off the classic red-and-gray paint scheme under a wonderful Wisconsin summer sky. This was the only Alco RS-11 on the Green Bay Route roster. The engine was less than popular with crews; apparently they would go out of their way to make sure that #309 wasn't in their consist, or at least not the lead unit! The first of the more modern Alco C-424s arrived the same month that this photo was taken; soon the shop crew at Norwood recognized the shortcomings of the RS-11. In 1964 it was rebuilt with a 2000 horsepower engine and a low short hood (it previously ran high long hood forward, as can be seen by the small "F" on the checkerboard frame in this photo). Check out the composite pulpwood car behind the engine - a testimonial to the importance of paper mill traffic to the railroad. KGBW #309 was the last engine to carry the Kewaunee reporting marks before the division was completely merged into the GB&W in 1969. The locomotive lasted until the end of the Green Bay Route in 1993 and was sold to the Kankakee, Beaverville & Southern. It was wrecked in 1999 on the KB&S and is now being cannibalized for parts. A thanks goes out to Bob Schoneman for sharing this photo. |
R.T Smart photo, August 1963.
From the collection of Bob Schoneman
and may not be reproduced without permission.
