Crab Orchard and Egyptian Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Crab Orchard and Egyptian Railroad is a Class III
common carrier shortline railroad
that operates between the cities of Marion
and Herrin
in the Southern Illinois region. It is most historically recognized by the FRA
for being the last U.S.
railroad of any kind to use steam locomotives exclusively in regular revenue freight service up until 1986.
in two separate railroad districts with a fleet of three diesel switcher
engines. One line being known as the "Marion District", which is the railroad's main working division with roughly 10 miles (16.1 km) of track; and the other division being the "Herrin District", which mostly serves the city's manufacturing industries along a 5 miles (8 km) stretch of track. The railroad operates only a small workforce of five employees on the system.
It also has three different interchange points with two Class I
railroads. Near their main offices in downtown Marion, the railroad has a junction with Union Pacific
's Marion Subdivision; another interchange is located in the nearby Marion suburb of Bainbridge with BNSF Railway
's Beardstown Subdivision. A second BNSF connection with the same line is also present in the Herrin district. Most of the CO&E Railroad's revenue freight products primarily consist of coal
, lumber
, petroleum
, grain
, steel
, paper
, chemicals, manufactured goods, and railcar repair service.
operation alongside Illinois Central Gulf owned trackage. With the first revenue operations commencing on , the railroad ran its very first train consisting of CO&E's newly acquired 2-4-2T #5 and three former Illinois Central Railroad commuter cars from the former IC passenger station on Market Street in downtown Marion with several sightseers in haul. Their tourist runs would go west towards the old Crab Orchard Refuge
railroad junction
near Ordill where the train would do a brief turn-around and eventually make a return trip back to the passenger depot.
Locomotive #5 was rebuilt after its first season in service. The saddle tank and coal bunker were removed and a tender purchased from the Illinois Central Gulf in nearby Carbondale, Illinois
, was added in its place. The rebuild resulted in a locomotive that looked more at home pulling the passenger trains, and also gave #5 additional fuel and water capacity.
About two years later, a second and much larger steam engine was purchased from John Thompson of Chicago, Illinois. The locomotive was in storage in the Central Vermont Railway
roundhouse in New London, Connecticut
and was moved to Marion in early 1975 to further compliment the CO&E Railroad's historic roster. This new Canadian-built
locomotive was former Roberval & Saguenay
2-8-0
#17, although since it was not in operable condition, the new engine couldn't be used in immediate service until an overhaul was performed. Despite a promising bright future, a tragic turnaround occurred on , when the CO&E's first major incident took place as a fire suddenly broke out inside the old Illinois Central depot. The building was completely gutted, leaving the building little more than an empty brick shell. The fire destroyed the railroad's main offices, which were located inside the depot, and two of the CO&E's six passenger cars used in its tourist operation; this huge loss permanently affected future tourist services and would eventually be abolished indefinitely a year later by .
All was not necessarily lost after this incident when only four months later, the Illinois Central Gulf sold the CO&E Railroad its trackage and property altogether after they discontinued freight service along the entire route. With this new advantage in hand, the railroad's first common carrier
freight services would commence soon afterwards and the first revenue train was pulled behind 2-4-2 #5 on . These changes in operation immediately took off successfully as freight customers started growing rapidly with CO&E's new locally owned and operated service. Piggyback
service was also eventually added in when a large fleet of more than 200 new flatcar
s and 600 highway trailers
painted for the CO&E Railroad were delivered. A new engine was acquired at the same time to help switch cars around when a small Davenport
35-Ton switcher arrived on the property in 1978. Not long afterwards, the first test run of the 2-8-0 steamer finally occurred on after an extensive four year overhaul and quickly became the primary power of choice by July.
, covered hopper
s, and 25 former Ahnapee & Western
boxcar
s, all of which were lettered for the CO&E with their classic pyramid logo.
By the mid-decade in , the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway
in Jackson, Missouri
made a deal to purchase the CO&E's 2-4-2T #5 steamer for use on their scenic tourist trains and the locomotive was eventually retired from revenue service soon afterwards to be sent to its new owner. They eventually replaced their #5 steam engine a year later when the CO&E leased their very first diesel-powered switchers from Precision National in , which were two former Missouri Pacific Railroad
SW1200s
numbered #1147 and #1136. #1147 arrived on the property on September 4, 1986, while #1136 followed the next day. The arrival of the diesels proved to be fortuitous.
On the afternoon of , the #17 was out switching coal hoppers when the dry-pipe inside the boiler
suddenly collapsed and indefinitely put the engine out of service unless another major overhaul could be performed on it. The CO&E Railroad's fame of pulling common carrier freight trains, including intermodal piggyback cars, with a steam locomotive finally came to an abrupt end due to this incident. The incident also marked the end of an era for American-wide railroading in general.
As it was, the railroad had been preparing for the post-steam era. The arrival of the diesels was evidence to this. #17 had been in service for seven years, and was approaching a federally mandated overhaul. The major work that would have been required was the replacement of the tubes and flues running from the firebox to the smokebox in the boiler. The withdrawal from service of #17 for the required overhaul would have marked the end of her career, as there was no plan to overhaul #17 when its flue time ran out.
Since it was no longer in operating condition, the #17 was eventually sold on and later transferred to the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad
in Boone, Iowa
to be used for historic display purposes where it remains today; the railroad's roster became fully dieselized afterwards with both of their remaining GM-EMD SW1200s and Davenport 35-ton switcher. A third former Missouri Pacific SW1200, #1161 was eventually purchased and joined the roster in the spring of 1987. Before arrival, it was given a full coat of paint which matched Marion's local high school colors of blue and yellow; however the #1147 was never painted into the railroad's scheme and only given a patch job with their pyramid logo.
During the fall of next year, a new line was purchased directly from the Illinois Central Gulf on in the nearby city of Herrin
. This new addition expanded the CO&E's current system by 5 miles (8 km) and gave them access to Herrin's lucrative manufacturing industry such as Maytag Inc.
#1136 and was fully painted to match Herrin's local high school colors of orange and black. This engine later served as a replacement for COER #1147, which left the roster in 1989 and brought the roster down to three engines yet again.
since the 1970s, the 1980s did see a big difference in the way things were done with the railroad. Intermodal piggyback
service started winding down in 1982 and was eventually phased out four years later due to deregulation within the railroad industry. The CO&E's entire roster of freight cars were also sold off early in the decade with the growing popularity of independently and privately owned freight car shippers, many of such were sold to other shortlines for leasing purposes.
In 1995, the railroad's small, but longest-lasting, "Rosi-Clare" Davenport
35-tonner was finally retired from the roster after nearly 20 years of service with the CO&E Railroad. It was later donated to the American Fluorite Museum in the engine's namesake town of Rosiclare, Illinois
the same year where it currently resides in full CO&E paint and lettering for display purposes. With Rosi-Clare's departure, a new EMD SW1
switcher would later be purchased from the former Sahara Coal Company as a replacement. It was repainted into the CO&E Railroad's "Marion District" colors of blue and yellow and given the new name and number of "The Six" on the cab side. During , The Six was eventually given the formal name of William "Bill" E. Schreiber in devotion to one of the CO&E's original founders who had recently died.[When?]
The current traffic base for the CO&E Railroad consists of more than 10 different industrial areas
with rail access, all of which ship various commodities on both lines. In the Marion District, there is Warren Oil (liquids and lubricants), Perma-Treat (treated lumber), North Side Wholesale, Illinois Transload, and P&S Grain. Some of its largest customers here are Southern Illinois Railcar, which provides freight-car repair services, Hastie Mining, and Excel Mining, which ship equipment and supplies used in mining applications, and General Dynamics, a government contractor whom makes ammunition for the military.
Inside the railroad's Herrin District, there is the CO&E's largest customer, Whirlpool-Maytag
's appliance factory, Stone Container (a cardboard box plant), DJM Oil (fuels and lubricants), and East Side Wholesale. Many of these plants have closed down over time within the past few years though, such as the case with Whirlpool shutting down their factory in December 2006 and DJM Oil burning down to the ground in 2007.
, and two EMD SW1200
's, all of which are fully painted into CO&E's present scheme; however their individual colors correspond to their own district's local high school colors.
in Boone, Iowa
and is still painted with the CO&E's classic pyramid logo. The railroad's other steam engine, COER 2-4-2T #5, is currently in storage at the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway
in Jackson, Missouri
and pending further restoration.
As for the CO&E Railroad's very first diesel switcher, SW1200 #1147, it only spent three years on the shortline before it was returned to Precision National in 1989 after originally being acquired in August 1986. This company would later sell the engine to the Alcoa Terminal Railroad near Knoxville, Tennessee
the same year where it currently remains and works with today.
Class III railroad
A Class III railroad, as defined by the Surface Transportation Board, is a railroad with an annual operating revenue of less than $20 million . The term only applies to United States railroads, but is sometimes applied to other countries...
common carrier shortline railroad
Shortline railroad
A shortline railroad is a small or mid-sized railroad company that operates over a relatively short distance relative to larger, national railroad networks. The term is used primarily in the USA and Canada...
that operates between the cities of Marion
Marion, Illinois
The city of Marion is the county seat of Williamson County, Illinois. The 2010 census counted 17,193 residents, making Marion the 25th most populated city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area, in Illinois, and the second most populous city in Southern Illinois, outside of the Metro-East, behind...
and Herrin
Herrin, Illinois
Herrin is a city in Williamson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 12,501 at the 2010 census. It is home to Country Musicstar David Lee Murphy, the hometown of baseball's Cleveland shortstop Ray Chapman, and the hometown of San Diego State University men's basketball coach Steve...
in the Southern Illinois region. It is most historically recognized by the FRA
Federal Railroad Administration
The Federal Railroad Administration is an agency in the United States Department of Transportation. The agency was created by the Department of Transportation Act of 1966...
for being the last U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
railroad of any kind to use steam locomotives exclusively in regular revenue freight service up until 1986.
Overview
The present-day shortline currently operates a total of 15 miles (24.1 km) of track across the industrial centers of Williamson CountyWilliamson County, Illinois
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*92.7% White*3.8% Black*0.4% Native American*0.8% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.7% Two or more races*0.4% Other races*2.0% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
in two separate railroad districts with a fleet of three diesel switcher
Switcher
A switcher or shunter is a small railroad locomotive intended not for moving trains over long distances but rather for assembling trains ready for a road locomotive to take over, disassembling a train that has been...
engines. One line being known as the "Marion District", which is the railroad's main working division with roughly 10 miles (16.1 km) of track; and the other division being the "Herrin District", which mostly serves the city's manufacturing industries along a 5 miles (8 km) stretch of track. The railroad operates only a small workforce of five employees on the system.
It also has three different interchange points with two Class I
Class I railroad
A Class I railroad in the United States and Mexico, or a Class I rail carrier in Canada, is a large freight railroad company, as classified based on operating revenue.Smaller railroads are classified as Class II and Class III...
railroads. Near their main offices in downtown Marion, the railroad has a junction with Union Pacific
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
's Marion Subdivision; another interchange is located in the nearby Marion suburb of Bainbridge with BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
's Beardstown Subdivision. A second BNSF connection with the same line is also present in the Herrin district. Most of the CO&E Railroad's revenue freight products primarily consist of coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
, lumber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
, petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
, grain
GRAIN
GRAIN is a small international non-profit organisation that works to support small farmers and social movements in their struggles for community-controlled and biodiversity-based food systems. Our support takes the form of independent research and analysis, networking at local, regional and...
, steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
, paper
Paper
Paper is a thin material mainly used for writing upon, printing upon, drawing or for packaging. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets....
, chemicals, manufactured goods, and railcar repair service.
Background: 1970s
On , the Crab Orchard & Egyptian railroad was first founded and incorporated under the name of American Rail Heritage Ltd. and the new company started off by creating a vintage tourist lineHeritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
operation alongside Illinois Central Gulf owned trackage. With the first revenue operations commencing on , the railroad ran its very first train consisting of CO&E's newly acquired 2-4-2T #5 and three former Illinois Central Railroad commuter cars from the former IC passenger station on Market Street in downtown Marion with several sightseers in haul. Their tourist runs would go west towards the old Crab Orchard Refuge
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge is a 43,890 acre National Wildlife Refuge primarily in southwestern Williamson County, but with small extensions into adjacent eastern Jackson and northeastern Union counties of southern Illinois, in the United States. Its land and water contain a wide...
railroad junction
Wye (railroad)
A wye or triangular junction, in rail terminology, is a triangular shaped arrangement of rail tracks with a switch or set of points at each corner. In mainline railroads, this can be used at a rail junction, where three rail lines join, in order to allow trains to pass from any line to any other...
near Ordill where the train would do a brief turn-around and eventually make a return trip back to the passenger depot.
Locomotive #5 was rebuilt after its first season in service. The saddle tank and coal bunker were removed and a tender purchased from the Illinois Central Gulf in nearby Carbondale, Illinois
Carbondale, Illinois
Carbondale is a city in Jackson County, in the state of Illinois, within the Southern Illinois region. It is located at the junction of Illinois Route 13 and U.S. Route 51, southeast of St. Louis, Missouri, on the northern edge of the Shawnee National Forest...
, was added in its place. The rebuild resulted in a locomotive that looked more at home pulling the passenger trains, and also gave #5 additional fuel and water capacity.
About two years later, a second and much larger steam engine was purchased from John Thompson of Chicago, Illinois. The locomotive was in storage in the Central Vermont Railway
Central Vermont Railway
The Central Vermont Railway was a railroad that operated in the New England states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, as well as the Canadian province of Quebec....
roundhouse in New London, Connecticut
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
and was moved to Marion in early 1975 to further compliment the CO&E Railroad's historic roster. This new Canadian-built
Canadian Locomotive Company
The Canadian Locomotive Company, commonly referred to as CLC, was a Canadian manufacturer of railway locomotives located in Kingston, Ontario. Its works were located on Ontario Street and Gore Street on Kingston's waterfront....
locomotive was former Roberval & Saguenay
Roberval and Saguenay Railway
The Roberval and Saguenay Railway is a small railway company, wholly owned by Rio Tinto Alcan. It carries raw materials in portions of northern Quebec province, Canada. With about of track in total, it touches on such spots as Chicoutimi and Arvida and connects to the Canadian National Railway....
2-8-0
2-8-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-8-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and no trailing wheels...
#17, although since it was not in operable condition, the new engine couldn't be used in immediate service until an overhaul was performed. Despite a promising bright future, a tragic turnaround occurred on , when the CO&E's first major incident took place as a fire suddenly broke out inside the old Illinois Central depot. The building was completely gutted, leaving the building little more than an empty brick shell. The fire destroyed the railroad's main offices, which were located inside the depot, and two of the CO&E's six passenger cars used in its tourist operation; this huge loss permanently affected future tourist services and would eventually be abolished indefinitely a year later by .
All was not necessarily lost after this incident when only four months later, the Illinois Central Gulf sold the CO&E Railroad its trackage and property altogether after they discontinued freight service along the entire route. With this new advantage in hand, the railroad's first common carrier
Common carrier
A common carrier in common-law countries is a person or company that transports goods or people for any person or company and that is responsible for any possible loss of the goods during transport...
freight services would commence soon afterwards and the first revenue train was pulled behind 2-4-2 #5 on . These changes in operation immediately took off successfully as freight customers started growing rapidly with CO&E's new locally owned and operated service. Piggyback
Intermodal freight transport
Intermodal freight transport involves the transportation of freight in an intermodal container or vehicle, using multiple modes of transportation , without any handling of the freight itself when changing modes. The method reduces cargo handling, and so improves security, reduces damages and...
service was also eventually added in when a large fleet of more than 200 new flatcar
Flatcar
A flatcar is a piece of railroad or railway rolling stock that consists of an open, flat deck on four or six wheels or a pair of trucks or bogies . The deck of the car can be wood or steel, and the sides of the deck can include pockets for stakes or tie-down points to secure loads...
s and 600 highway trailers
Semi-trailer
A semi-trailer is a trailer without a front axle. A large proportion of its weight is supported by a road tractor, a detachable front axle assembly known as a dolly, or the tail of another trailer...
painted for the CO&E Railroad were delivered. A new engine was acquired at the same time to help switch cars around when a small Davenport
Davenport Locomotive Works
The Davenport Locomotive Works, of Davenport, Iowa, USA built locomotives from 1902 until 1956. The company acquired the locomotive business of H. K...
35-Ton switcher arrived on the property in 1978. Not long afterwards, the first test run of the 2-8-0 steamer finally occurred on after an extensive four year overhaul and quickly became the primary power of choice by July.
Last American steam railroad: 1980s
As the next decade started for the Crab Orchard & Egyptian railroad, steam-powered freight service was still expanding and the railroad purchased several different freight cars of its own over the next few years; many of these included coal hoppersHopper car
A hopper car is a type of railroad freight car used to transport loose bulk commodities such as coal, ore, grain, track ballast, and the like. The name originated from the coke manufacturing industry which is part of the steel industry ....
, covered hopper
Covered hopper
A Covered Hopper is a railroad freight car. They are designed for carrying dry bulk loads, varying from grain to products such as sand and clay. The cover protects the loads from the weather - dried cement would be very hard to unload if mixed with water in transit, while grain would be liable to...
s, and 25 former Ahnapee & Western
Ahnapee and Western Railway
The Ahnapee and Western Railway was a common carrier short line railroad located in northeastern Wisconsin.The railroad ran from a connection with the Kewaunee, Green Bay and Western Railroad at Casco Junction to the lakeshore terminals of Algoma in Kewaunee County and Sturgeon Bay in the "Door...
boxcar
Boxcar
A boxcar is a railroad car that is enclosed and generally used to carry general freight. The boxcar, while not the simplest freight car design, is probably the most versatile, since it can carry most loads...
s, all of which were lettered for the CO&E with their classic pyramid logo.
By the mid-decade in , the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway
St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway
The St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway was a historic railroad that operated in Missouri, and Arkansas during the late 19th and early 20th centuries....
in Jackson, Missouri
Jackson, Missouri
Jackson is a city in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. The population was 13,758 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Cape Girardeau County. Jackson is named for U.S. President Andrew Jackson. It is a principal city of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan...
made a deal to purchase the CO&E's 2-4-2T #5 steamer for use on their scenic tourist trains and the locomotive was eventually retired from revenue service soon afterwards to be sent to its new owner. They eventually replaced their #5 steam engine a year later when the CO&E leased their very first diesel-powered switchers from Precision National in , which were two former Missouri Pacific Railroad
Missouri Pacific Railroad
The Missouri Pacific Railroad , also known as the MoPac, was one of the first railroads in the United States west of the Mississippi River. MoPac was a Class I railroad growing from dozens of predecessors and mergers, including the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway , Texas and Pacific...
SW1200s
EMD SW1200
An EMD SW1200 is a diesel switcher locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between January 1954 and May 1966. Power was provided by an EMD 567C 12-cylinder engine which generated 1200 horsepower...
numbered #1147 and #1136. #1147 arrived on the property on September 4, 1986, while #1136 followed the next day. The arrival of the diesels proved to be fortuitous.
On the afternoon of , the #17 was out switching coal hoppers when the dry-pipe inside the boiler
Boiler
A boiler is a closed vessel in which water or other fluid is heated. The heated or vaporized fluid exits the boiler for use in various processes or heating applications.-Materials:...
suddenly collapsed and indefinitely put the engine out of service unless another major overhaul could be performed on it. The CO&E Railroad's fame of pulling common carrier freight trains, including intermodal piggyback cars, with a steam locomotive finally came to an abrupt end due to this incident. The incident also marked the end of an era for American-wide railroading in general.
As it was, the railroad had been preparing for the post-steam era. The arrival of the diesels was evidence to this. #17 had been in service for seven years, and was approaching a federally mandated overhaul. The major work that would have been required was the replacement of the tubes and flues running from the firebox to the smokebox in the boiler. The withdrawal from service of #17 for the required overhaul would have marked the end of her career, as there was no plan to overhaul #17 when its flue time ran out.
Since it was no longer in operating condition, the #17 was eventually sold on and later transferred to the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad
Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad
The Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad is a heritage railroad in Boone County, Iowa.-History:The railroad was started in 1983 by a group of volunteers primarily to preserve a scenic section of the former Fort Dodge, Des Moines and Southern Railroad. The original track was built in the 1890s and...
in Boone, Iowa
Boone, Iowa
Boone is a city in and the county seat of Des Moines Township, Boone County, Iowa, United States. It is the principal city of the 'Boone, Iowa Micropolitan Statistical Area', which encompasses all of Boone County. This micropolitan statistical area, along with the 'Ames, Iowa Metropolitan...
to be used for historic display purposes where it remains today; the railroad's roster became fully dieselized afterwards with both of their remaining GM-EMD SW1200s and Davenport 35-ton switcher. A third former Missouri Pacific SW1200, #1161 was eventually purchased and joined the roster in the spring of 1987. Before arrival, it was given a full coat of paint which matched Marion's local high school colors of blue and yellow; however the #1147 was never painted into the railroad's scheme and only given a patch job with their pyramid logo.
During the fall of next year, a new line was purchased directly from the Illinois Central Gulf on in the nearby city of Herrin
Herrin, Illinois
Herrin is a city in Williamson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 12,501 at the 2010 census. It is home to Country Musicstar David Lee Murphy, the hometown of baseball's Cleveland shortstop Ray Chapman, and the hometown of San Diego State University men's basketball coach Steve...
. This new addition expanded the CO&E's current system by 5 miles (8 km) and gave them access to Herrin's lucrative manufacturing industry such as Maytag Inc.
Maytag
Maytag Corporation is an American home and commercial appliance company, headquartered in Newton, Iowa, that is a division of the Whirlpool Corporation.-Company history:...
#1136 and was fully painted to match Herrin's local high school colors of orange and black. This engine later served as a replacement for COER #1147, which left the roster in 1989 and brought the roster down to three engines yet again.
Current day: 1990s - Present
While the modern-day Crab Orchard & Egyptian Railroad has been operating common carrier services across Williamson CountyWilliamson County, Illinois
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*92.7% White*3.8% Black*0.4% Native American*0.8% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.7% Two or more races*0.4% Other races*2.0% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
since the 1970s, the 1980s did see a big difference in the way things were done with the railroad. Intermodal piggyback
Intermodal freight transport
Intermodal freight transport involves the transportation of freight in an intermodal container or vehicle, using multiple modes of transportation , without any handling of the freight itself when changing modes. The method reduces cargo handling, and so improves security, reduces damages and...
service started winding down in 1982 and was eventually phased out four years later due to deregulation within the railroad industry. The CO&E's entire roster of freight cars were also sold off early in the decade with the growing popularity of independently and privately owned freight car shippers, many of such were sold to other shortlines for leasing purposes.
In 1995, the railroad's small, but longest-lasting, "Rosi-Clare" Davenport
Davenport Locomotive Works
The Davenport Locomotive Works, of Davenport, Iowa, USA built locomotives from 1902 until 1956. The company acquired the locomotive business of H. K...
35-tonner was finally retired from the roster after nearly 20 years of service with the CO&E Railroad. It was later donated to the American Fluorite Museum in the engine's namesake town of Rosiclare, Illinois
Rosiclare, Illinois
Rosiclare is a city in Hardin County, Illinois, along the Ohio River. The population was 1,213 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Rosiclare is located at ....
the same year where it currently resides in full CO&E paint and lettering for display purposes. With Rosi-Clare's departure, a new EMD SW1
EMD SW1
The EMD SW1 was a diesel-electric switcher locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between December 1938 and November 1953. Final assembly was at EMD's plant at La Grange, Illinois. The SW1 was the second generation of 600 hp switcher from EMD, succeeding the SW and SC...
switcher would later be purchased from the former Sahara Coal Company as a replacement. It was repainted into the CO&E Railroad's "Marion District" colors of blue and yellow and given the new name and number of "The Six" on the cab side. During , The Six was eventually given the formal name of William "Bill" E. Schreiber in devotion to one of the CO&E's original founders who had recently died.[When?]
The current traffic base for the CO&E Railroad consists of more than 10 different industrial areas
Industrial park
An industrial park is an area zoned and planned for the purpose of industrial development...
with rail access, all of which ship various commodities on both lines. In the Marion District, there is Warren Oil (liquids and lubricants), Perma-Treat (treated lumber), North Side Wholesale, Illinois Transload, and P&S Grain. Some of its largest customers here are Southern Illinois Railcar, which provides freight-car repair services, Hastie Mining, and Excel Mining, which ship equipment and supplies used in mining applications, and General Dynamics, a government contractor whom makes ammunition for the military.
Inside the railroad's Herrin District, there is the CO&E's largest customer, Whirlpool-Maytag
Maytag
Maytag Corporation is an American home and commercial appliance company, headquartered in Newton, Iowa, that is a division of the Whirlpool Corporation.-Company history:...
's appliance factory, Stone Container (a cardboard box plant), DJM Oil (fuels and lubricants), and East Side Wholesale. Many of these plants have closed down over time within the past few years though, such as the case with Whirlpool shutting down their factory in December 2006 and DJM Oil burning down to the ground in 2007.
Current active roster
Over its three decade history, the Crab Orchard and Egyptian's locomotive roster has seen a large transition between steam power back in the 1970s and the present-day diesel power currently running; overall they have owned a total of seven different engines from four different locomotive builders over the course of its time. The modern roster only comprises one EMD SW1EMD SW1
The EMD SW1 was a diesel-electric switcher locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between December 1938 and November 1953. Final assembly was at EMD's plant at La Grange, Illinois. The SW1 was the second generation of 600 hp switcher from EMD, succeeding the SW and SC...
, and two EMD SW1200
EMD SW1200
An EMD SW1200 is a diesel switcher locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between January 1954 and May 1966. Power was provided by an EMD 567C 12-cylinder engine which generated 1200 horsepower...
's, all of which are fully painted into CO&E's present scheme; however their individual colors correspond to their own district's local high school colors.
| Engine | Built | Number | Acquired | Colors | Named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EMD SW1 EMD SW1 The EMD SW1 was a diesel-electric switcher locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between December 1938 and November 1953. Final assembly was at EMD's plant at La Grange, Illinois. The SW1 was the second generation of 600 hp switcher from EMD, succeeding the SW and SC... |
1953 | 6 | 1995 | Blue & yellow | The Six – William E. Schreiber |
| EMD SW1200 EMD SW1200 An EMD SW1200 is a diesel switcher locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between January 1954 and May 1966. Power was provided by an EMD 567C 12-cylinder engine which generated 1200 horsepower... |
1966 | 1136 | 1987 | Black & orange | City of Herrin |
| EMD SW1200 EMD SW1200 An EMD SW1200 is a diesel switcher locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between January 1954 and May 1966. Power was provided by an EMD 567C 12-cylinder engine which generated 1200 horsepower... |
1965 | 1161 | 1986 | Blue & yellow | Marion Ross |
Past historic roster
One of the railroad's former steam engines, COER 2-8-0 #17, is most widely known for holding the historic title as the last operating common carrier steam locomotive in America. It currently sits on display at the Boone and Scenic Valley RailroadBoone and Scenic Valley Railroad
The Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad is a heritage railroad in Boone County, Iowa.-History:The railroad was started in 1983 by a group of volunteers primarily to preserve a scenic section of the former Fort Dodge, Des Moines and Southern Railroad. The original track was built in the 1890s and...
in Boone, Iowa
Boone, Iowa
Boone is a city in and the county seat of Des Moines Township, Boone County, Iowa, United States. It is the principal city of the 'Boone, Iowa Micropolitan Statistical Area', which encompasses all of Boone County. This micropolitan statistical area, along with the 'Ames, Iowa Metropolitan...
and is still painted with the CO&E's classic pyramid logo. The railroad's other steam engine, COER 2-4-2T #5, is currently in storage at the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway
St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway
The St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway was a historic railroad that operated in Missouri, and Arkansas during the late 19th and early 20th centuries....
in Jackson, Missouri
Jackson, Missouri
Jackson is a city in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. The population was 13,758 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Cape Girardeau County. Jackson is named for U.S. President Andrew Jackson. It is a principal city of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan...
and pending further restoration.
As for the CO&E Railroad's very first diesel switcher, SW1200 #1147, it only spent three years on the shortline before it was returned to Precision National in 1989 after originally being acquired in August 1986. This company would later sell the engine to the Alcoa Terminal Railroad near Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
the same year where it currently remains and works with today.
| Engine | Built | Number | Acquired | Retired | Named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport Davenport Locomotive Works The Davenport Locomotive Works, of Davenport, Iowa, USA built locomotives from 1902 until 1956. The company acquired the locomotive business of H. K... 35-Ton |
1942 | 1 | 1978 | 1995 | Rosi-Clare |
| Porter H. K. Porter, Inc H. K. Porter, Inc. manufactured light-duty railroad locomotives in the USA, starting in 1866. The company became the largest producer of industrial locomotives, and built almost eight thousand of them... 2-4-2T |
1946 | 5 | 1973 | 1985 | None |
| CLC Canadian Locomotive Company The Canadian Locomotive Company, commonly referred to as CLC, was a Canadian manufacturer of railway locomotives located in Kingston, Ontario. Its works were located on Ontario Street and Gore Street on Kingston's waterfront.... 2-8-0 2-8-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-8-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and no trailing wheels... |
1940 | 17 | 1975 | 1986 | None |
| EMD SW1200 EMD SW1200 An EMD SW1200 is a diesel switcher locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between January 1954 and May 1966. Power was provided by an EMD 567C 12-cylinder engine which generated 1200 horsepower... |
1966 | 1147 | 1986 | 1989 | None |
External links
- Crab Orchard & Egyptian Railroad – Official Website