Large Scale Central

Little Joe electrics on the Milwaukee Railroad

Videos
#1

Too good not to share. Still photos shot around Avery Idaho in May, 1973, shortly before the MILW was abandoned.

The history on the Little Joe locomotive is kind of interesting. Originally built for export to the USSR on the Lend Lease program of WWII. But the war ended, and Little Joe Stalin started acting stupid, so Congress decided not to send them. The trucks had to be regauged to 4’8" from the Soviet 5 ft gauge. Otherwise, no changes needed to be made. The MILW bought them as war surplus for a song.

[youtube]http://youtu.be/gHJywSNj_wc[/youtube]

#2

All the gauges, instruction plates, etc, were still in Russian when the Milw took delivery. They never changed them to English.

The ones with the windows plated over were designated a rear facing “B” unit for double heading.

#3

Another tidbit added to my fund of “barfacts.” Thank you, JB, I did not know that.

Did the engineers have to learn Russian? lol

#4

Thanks Steve…I always liked them locos never knew the history on it though