Grand Trunk Western (GTW) 4930 - EMD GP38-2

From right to left, rear end of L54491, a lite move being added to 544, and L58891 behind waiting

A431

CN

GT duo sits near the sanding tower on this visit.

GTW 4930 (GP38-2) pulls a cut of three tank cars bound for Sanimax, which can bee seen behind the train. Seen from Badgerland Dr., in Howard, WI.

GTW 4930 (GP38-2) pulls a cut of three tank cars bound for Sanimax. Seen from Badgerland Dr., in Howard, WI.

GTW 4930 (GP9) resting in Appleton Yard in Appleton, WI.

GTW 4930 (GP9), with CN 9567 (GP40-2LW) and CN 9524 (GP40-2W) waiting on a signal to head north with a train, rests in Appleton Yard in Appleton, WI.

A CN local crosses S. Outagamie St. and approaches W. Prospect Ave. as it heads southeast via former C&NW rails at Appleton, WI, on 31 Mar. '21. Train was headed for Kimberly and Combined Locks with 13 cars. This intersection of W. Prospect Ave., S. Outagamie St., and W. Haskel St. was recently reconstructed (and reconfigured), as part of the much needed reconstruction of W. Prospect Ave. from the tracks to S. Seminole Rd. This portion of W. Prospect Ave., from S. Mason St. westward, used to be named Carver St. The portion of W. Prospect Ave. from S. Mason St. to S. State St. was W. 2nd St. Prospect originally only ran from S. State St. to what is currently the intersection with S. Appleton St./S. Oneida St.

GTW 4930 crosses S. Mason St. while headed southwest via CN, former C&NW, rails at Appleton, WI, on 25 Mar. '21. I haven't learned why one side of the bridge is lower than the other, but I have discovered why one side is wider than the other. An old photograph reveals that the right (northbound) lane of S. Mason St. once accommodated a streetcar track and a lane for motor vehicle traffic simultaneously. You can also see that the bridge abutments and piers were designed to support two tracks, but I don't believe this area was ever double-tracked.

A CN local approaches W. Capitol Dr. as it heads southeast with 6 cars via former C&NW rails at Town of Grand Chute, Outagamie Co., WI, on 7 Mar. '21.

A CN local crosses S. Nash St./Hwy. M (originally Oshkosh St.) as it heads southeast with 6 cars via former C&NW rails at Hortonville, WI, on 7 Mar. '21.

A CN local approaches Greenville Dr./Hwy. 15 as it heads southwest with 9 cars via former C&NW rails at West Greenville, WI, on 7 Mar. '21. There used to be a depot and siding at the Greenville Dr./Hwy. 15 grade crossing. Local was headed for New London.

A CN local passes a neat, old barn and concrete silo and crosses W. Capitol Dr. as it heads southeast with 6 cars via former C&NW rails at Town of Grand Chute, Outagamie Co., WI, on 7 Mar. '21. The farmstead dates to at least 1882, but I’m not sure if the barn does. It does not appear to be an active farm. This locomotive passed this same spot exactly five hours earlier, when it was headed in the opposite direction.

A CN local crosses Municipal Dr./Hwy. 76 as it heads southeast with 6 cars via former C&NW rails at Greenville, WI, on 7 Mar. '21. The historic Greenville House, a.k.a. Kronser Hotel & Saloon, stands at left. Built by Joseph A. Kronser in 1897, it is currently home to Greenville Station (formerly Bootleggers). Several references erroneously state that the building dates to 1887. The original hotel was erected in that year, but it burned down and the current facility was erected in its place. Some references also claim that the building has been called Greenville Station for over 100 years, but that too is an exaggeration. The depot stood to the right, on the far side of the tracks.

A CN local passes the station sign and approaches S. Nash St./Hwy. M (originally Oshkosh St.) as it heads southeast with 6 cars via former C&NW rails at Hortonville, WI, on 7 Mar. '21. I believe that the depot stood a little closer to S. Nash St./Hwy. M than the station sign currently does. It is difficult to believe that there used to be five tracks here. To the right stands the historic Peter Olk’s Elevator (a.k.a. Olk’s Elevator) at 136 W. Dewey St. The oldest part of the facility dates to at least 1894, when it was the W. L. Root Grain & Potato Warehouse. A 10,000-bushel elevator was added to the facility in 1908, about the time that Olk acquired it. A couple of other additions have been erected since then. Circa ‘10, Peter Olk was a “dealer in grain, flour, feed, salt, lime and cement.” In ‘34 the facility became the home of Schneider Multifeed (a purveyor of feed for livestock and pets), and operated as such until at least 2006. Black Otter Supply is the facility’s most recent, if not current, occupant (a bird seed store). Another historic facility is partially visible in the background. The Wisconsin Grain and Malt Co. also dates to at least 1894. It was later acquired by the Western Elevator Co. and became the Miller Grain & Fuel Co. in 1909. It was used by the neighboring Schneider Elevator ca. 1968.

A CN local passes the remnants of the platform where the depot once stood and approaches Beacon Ave. as it heads south with 9 cars via the former C&NW rails at New London, Outagamie Co., WI, on 7 Mar. '21. Most of New London is in Waupaca Co., but this portion is in Outagamie Co. The depot was moved to the Heritage Historical Village, 900 Montgomery St., about 1,000 feet south of here, in 1987.

A CN local momentarily fouls N. Shawano St./Bus. 45 while working at the former GB&W yard at New London, Waupaca Co., WI, on 7 Mar. '21. Most of New London is in Waupaca Co., but part of it is in Outagamie Co.

A CN local crosses the Wolf River via the former C&NW swing bridge as it heads northwest with 9 cars at New London, Outagamie Co., WI, on 7 Mar. '21. Most of New London is in Waupaca Co., but this portion is in Outagamie Co. I didn't notice a builder's plate, but according to bridgehunter.com, the deck plate girder bridge was built in 1892.

A CN local crosses Givens Rd. as it heads northwest with 9 cars via former C&NW rails at Town of Hortonia, Outagamie Co., WI, on 7 Mar. '21. I was standing in Hortonville, the train was in Hortonia. The facility partially visible at right used to be part of the GripTite nail factory, I believe. The facility does not presently benefit from rail service, but it used to. It has been sub-divided and currently houses multiple businesses. I'm not sure if this portion is still used by Honey Bee Ware or not. The business changed hands a while back.

A CN local crosses Greenville Dr./Hwy. 15 as it heads southwest with 9 cars via former C&NW rails at West Greenville, WI, on 7 Mar. '21. There used to be a depot and siding at this grade crossing.

A CN local crosses Municipal Dr./Hwy. 76 as it heads northwest with 9 cars via former C&NW rails at Greenville, WI, on 7 Mar. '21. The historic Greenville House, a.k.a. Kronser Hotel & Saloon, stands at left. Built by Joseph A. Kronser in 1897, it is currently home to Greenville Station (formerly Bootleggers). Several references erroneously state that the building dates to 1887. The original hotel was erected in that year, but it burned down and the current facility was erected in its place. Some references also claim that the building has been called Greenville Station for over 100 years, but that too is an exaggeration.

A CN local crosses W. Capitol Dr. and passes a neat, old barn and concrete silo as it heads northwest with 9 cars via former C&NW rails at Town of Grand Chute, Outagamie Co., WI, on 7 Mar. '21. The farmstead dates to at least 1882, but I’m not sure if the barn does. It does not appear to be an active farm. This locomotive would pass this same spot exactly five hours later, when it was headed in the opposite direction.

A CN local crosses Mud Creek via the former SOO timber trestle bridge as it heads northeast at Fox Crossing, Winnebago Co., WI (formerly Town of Menasha, Winnebago Co., WI, from 1855 until 14 Apr. 2016) on 20 Feb. '21. The train is shaking some clumps of snow from the bridge. I was standing in the shadow of the former C&NW bridge, also in use by CN. The longer, center span of the SOO bridge consists of several steel I-beams; the remainder of the bridge is constructed of wood. I didn't see a builder’s plate, but there is a small stencil stating "Painted 1960." Metal walkways and handrails were added when the deck was replaced in '17, or maybe it was '16. Local was headed for Shawano with 6 or 7 cars.

A407

Long shot of a pair of oldies, waiting to get uncoupled.

Sitting in the CN/IC Yard in Decatur, Illinois.

GTW 4930 rests after working over night in the CN/IC Yard here in Decatur, Illinois.

Roster Shot.

Switch job returns to the yard.

A clearly ex-GT GP38-2 is paired with an ex-IC GP38-2 to haul a single covered hopper across the diamond at WABIC.

GTW GP38-2 4930 & an IC SD70 are awaiting their next assignment at CN/ICs Jackson Yard

GTW GP38-2 4930 leads a late 509 into Joliet Yard.