Helm Financial (HLCX) 1037 - Rebuilt EMD GP38-2

1037 was built in 1967 for the New York Central! Here it is in Penn Central black and white: https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4795835 . 1042 was built in 1965 for the New York Central! Here it is with the NYC logo: https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4377800 . 3880 was built in 1975 for the Missouri Pacific; here it is in MP colors: https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=5382290

HLCX 1037 (GP38-2) rests in the FOXY's Appleton, WI yard on a Thursday evening. Seen from W 2nd St.

HLCX 1037 (GP38-2), along with another HLCX GP38-2 lease, waits south of Wisconsin Ave. with a train on the FOXYs Shawano Sub. The tracks serve as the boarder between Appleton, WI to the left and the Town of Grande Chute, WI.

And here it is in Conrail colors (second unit): http://www.screamingeagle.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=5297965

Started out in 1967 as New York Central 3076. Here it is in Penn Central colors: http://www.screamingeagle.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4795835

HLCX 1037 (GP38-2) snoozes in the FOXYs Appleton, WI yard.

HLCX 1037 (GP38-2) rests outside of the newly completed FOXY engine house in the Appleton, WI yard. Seen from the end of 3rd St.

A FV&LS (or FOXY) train crosses Hwy. MM as it prepares to switch Shawano Specialty Papers (div. of Little Rapids Corp.) via former CN, historically C&NW, rails at West Shawano, Town of Richmond, Shawano Co., WI, on 25 Nov. '22. The area around the mill, which includes some former company houses, used to be referred to as West Shawano. The name still appears on some official property records. The paper mill stands along an approximately 2-mile scrap of the former C&NW mainline which once ran 83 miles from Green Bay to Wausau (this is the only active remnant outside of those two cities). That former main line is now the Mountain-Bay State Trail. It is an awesome bicycle ride, but I (obviously) would prefer to see trains running on it. The fence to the far right surrounds the paper mill's water treatment facility, which was built upon the former site of the Shawano Brick Yard (a.k.a. Larson Brick Yard). The brick yard (owned by Charles Larson, and later his son Thomas, for most, if not all, of its existence) produced fine white or cream-colored brick from 1891 until 1946. The large facility contained three kilns and its own narrow-gauge railway. The paper mill purchased the property at some point after the brick yard closed and eventually demolished the entire facility, to include the Larson mansion. The paper mill's historic office building was constructed in 1901 of brick from that yard.

A FV&LS (or FOXY) train crosses Hwy. B (historically Lime Kiln Rd.) as it hauls 4 cars northwest via former CN, historically SOO, rails at Shawano, WI, on 25 Nov. '22. Their train included a long cut of 3-bay covered hoppers when they departed Appleton, they dropped those off at Center Valley.

A FV&LS (or FOXY) train crosses Townline Rd. and passes the Navarino Wildlife Area as it hauls 4 cars northwest via former CN, historically SOO, rails on the border between the Town of Navarino (to the right) and the Town of Waukechon (to the left), Shawano Co., WI, on 25 Nov. '22. Their train included a long cut of 3-bay covered hoppers when they departed Appleton, they dropped those off at Center Valley.

A FV&LS (or FOXY) train parallels Meuleman Rd. as it hauls four cars northwest via former CN, historically SOO, rails at Nichols, WI, on 25 Nov. '22. Their train included a long cut of 3-bay covered hoppers when they departed Appleton, they dropped those off at Center Valley.

A FV&LS (or FOXY) train crosses Hwy. A as it hauls four cars northward via former CN, historically SOO, rails at Binghamton, WI, on 25 Nov. '22. Their train included a long cut of 3-bay covered hoppers when they departed Appleton, they dropped those off at Center Valley.

HLCX 1048 (GP38-2) snoozes in the FOXYs Appleton, WI Yard as maintenance is completed on HLCX 1048 (GP38-2).

After a brief stop at CP Appleton in order to plan their moves, L52381-07, prepares to work the FOXYs Appleton Yard. GTW 4921 (GP38-2) and GTW 4912 (GP38-2) are in charge of todays train. Meanwhile HLCX 1037 (GP38-2) and HLCX 1048 (GP38-2) rest in the yard.

HLCX 1037 (GP38-2) leads FOXY train AP201 across Prospect Ave. and Outagamie St. and into the Appleton Yard after working the Kimberly Line. The train will have to wait for a signal to cross the CNs Fox River Sub via crossover into the Appleton Yard.

GTW 4921 (GP38-2) and GTW 4912 (GP38-2), in charge of L52381-25, back cars into the FOXYs Appleton, WI yard. Interchange traffic between the CN and the FOXY is handled daily by L52381-25. Seen from 4th St. HLCX 1037 (GP38-2), a FOXY lease unit, can be soon resting off to right.

A mist covers AP203 as it crosses Givens Rd. in the Town of Hortonia, WI. Just to the right of HLCX 1042 (GP38-2) and HLCX 1037 (GP38-2) is the location of an overpass being built to cross the FOXYs New London Sub as Hwy 15 is expanded to four lanes and rerouted around Hortonville.

On a rainy Sunday afternoon, HLCX 1042 (GP38-2) and HLCX 1037 (GP38-2) navigate stick rail on the New London Sub. Most of the six car train that is AP203 can be seen in this shot taken from Hwy 15 in Hortonville, WI.

On a rainy Sunday afternoon, HLCX 1042 (GP38-2) and HLCX 1037 (GP38-2) shatter the quietness of Hortonville, WI with their horns as the creep across S. Lincoln St.

On a rainy Sunday afternoon, HLCX 1042 (GP38-2) and HLCX 1037 (GP38-2) navigate stick rail on the New London Sub. AP203 is seen from North Rd in Greenville, WI.

On a rainy Sunday afternoon, HLCX 1042 (GP38-2) and HLCX 1037 (GP38-2) navigate stick rail on the New London Sub. AP203 is seen from North Rd in Greenville, WI.

On a rainy Sunday afternoon, HLCX 1042 (GP38-2) and HLCX 1037 (GP38-2) lug AP203 across Hillview Rd in Greenville, WI.

Leased FOXY power rest in Appleton yard as L523 pauses on the CN's Fox River Sub planning their moves to interchange cars with the Watco owned shortline. On this rainy may day GTW 5847 (GP38-2) and GTW 5812 (GP38-2) were in charge of L523.

HLCX 3880 (GP38-2) works the FOXYs Appleton, WI yard. To the left HLCX 1037 (GP38-2) and HLCX 1042 (GP38-2) rest on the north leg of the Appleton wye along W. 2nd St. I have seen the locomotives stored in many locations in the yard when they are not use and there is rumors an engine house will be built soon inside of the wye.

HLCX 1042 (GP38-2) works the FOXYs Appleton Yard while three of her sisters rest. Seen from W. 2nd St. in Appleton, WI.

On a 30 degree April morning, three HLCX GP38-2s, 1048, 1037 and 3880, rest in the Fox Valley and Lake Superiors (FOXY) former CN, originally CNW, yard.

On a 30 degree April morning, four HLCX GP38-2s, the entirety of the Fox Valley & Lake Superiors Appleton power contingent, rest in Appleton, WI. HLCX 1042 is resting on the north leg of the Appleton Wye while numbers 1048, 1037 and 3880 rest in the FOXYs former CN, originally CNW, yard.

FOXY train AP203, the local to New London, WI, rolls through the heart of the Village of Greenville, WI and across HWY 76. Surrounded on both sides United Corporative, the spur to the right occasionally receives shipments of fertilizer. United Cooperative is a common shipper along Watco (the parent company of the Foxy) lines in Wisconsin and it will be interesting to see if they develop traffic here in Greenville. Today HLCX 3880 and HLCX 1037, both GP38-2s, have the honor of creaking along the stick rail of the New London Sub.

FOXY train AP203, the local to New London, WI, rolls through the heart of the Village of Greenville, WI and across HWY 76. Surrounded on both sides United Corporative, the spur to the right occasionally receives shipments of fertilizer. United Cooperative is a common shipper along Watco (the parent company of the Foxy) lines in Wisconsin and it will be interesting to see if they develop traffic here in Greenville. Today HLCX 3880 and HLCX 1037, both GP38-2s, have the honor of creaking along the stick rail of the New London Sub.

FOXY train AP203, the local to New London, WI, rolls through the heart of the Village of Greenville, WI and across HWY 76. Surrounded on both sides United Corporative, the spur to the right occasionally receives shipments of fertilizer. United Cooperative is a common shipper along Watco (the parent company of the Foxy) lines in Wisconsin and it will be interesting to see if they develop traffic here in Greenville. Today HLCX 3880 and HLCX 1037, both GP38-2s, have the honor of creaking along the stick rail of the New London Sub.

HLCX 3880 (GP38-2) and HLCX 1037 (GP38-2) pull FOXY train AP203 northwest bound across Capitol Dr. in Grand Chute, WI.

FOXY train AP203, with five covered hoppers bound for Amcor Flexibles in New London, WI, crosses the HWY 96/Wisconsin Ave bridge in Grand Chute, WI. Today the train had two leased HLCX GP38-2s, numbers 3880 and 1037. Note the case of bottled waters on the low hood of 1037.

FOXY train AP203, with five covered hoppers bound for Amcor Flexibles in New London, WI, crosses the HWY 96/Wisconsin Ave bridge in Grand Chute, WI. Today the train had two leased HLCX GP38-2s, numbers 3880 and 1037.

FOXY train AP203, with five covered hoppers bound for Amcor Flexibles in New London, WI, crosses the HWY 96/Wisconsin Ave bridge in Grand Chute, WI. Today the train had two leased HLCX GP38-2s, numbers 3880 and 1037.

HLCX 3880 (GP38-2) and HLCX 1037 (GP38-2) pull FOXY train AP203 northwest bound across N. Lynndale Dr. in Appleton, WI.

A FV&LS (or FOXY) train crosses W. Spencer St. as it returns to the former CN (historically C&NW) yard from the former CN (historically SOO) yard at Appleton Junction, WI, with over 30 cars on 2 Apr. '22. The W. College Ave. overpass is partially visible in the background.

A FV&LS (or FOXY) train, with a particularly unfriendly crew, parallels the Fox River as it prepares to service Warehouse Specialists, Inc. (WSI), 100 Prospect St., via former CN, historically C&NW, rails at Combined Locks, WI, on 22 Mar. '22. In the foreground, the remainder of their train rests at L. C. Siding.

A FV&LS (or FOXY) train, with a particularly unfriendly crew, parallels the Fox River as it prepares to service Warehouse Specialists, Inc., 100 Prospect St., via former CN, historically C&NW, rails at Combined Locks, WI, on 22 Mar. '22.

A Fox Valley & Lake Superior (FV&LS or FOXY) train, with a particularly unfriendly crew, parallels Prospect St. and the Fox River as it heads southwest via former CN, historically C&NW, rails at L. C. Siding at Combined Locks, WI, on 22 Mar. '22. After dropping the majority of their train at the siding, they are now headed for Warehouse Specialists, Inc. (WSI), 100 Prospect St. There used to be a station sign here for L. C. Siding, but the last time I saw it was Sep. '17.

A FV&LS (or FOXY) train, with a particularly unfriendly crew, feebly attempts to temporarily spot a boxcar as they service the Midwest Paper Group mill at Combined Locks, WI, via former CN, historically C&NW, rails on 22 Mar. '22. Unfortunately, this crew member failed to adequately set the brakes on this boxcar. As soon as the locomotives uncoupled, the boxcar obediently followed right behind them. Here the crew member helplessly watches it roll past him. It rolled far enough to foul the spur from which they intended to extract several other boxcars. I wish I had brought my video camera. I almost never experience schadenfreude, but in this particular instance, I did. This antagonistic train crew reported me the Outagamie Co. Sheriff's Dept. As I was watching them switch the mill, I saw a deputy pull up to a member of the train crew. The crew member pointed to me and then the deputy drove up to me. The friendly and professional deputy rolls down his window and says, "There is some concern down by the mill about what you are doing up here." I told him, "I'm just watching the train." He said, "You're OK. You can keep doing what you're doing." We wished each other a good day, and he drove away. I was standing on a public sidewalk 400' from railroad property. Founded in 1889 (some references state 1892) as the Combined Locks Paper Co., it became Combined Paper Mills, Inc. in ‘46 after it purchased a paper mill in PA. Acquired by the National Cash Register Co. in ‘69, it was merged with Appleton Coated Paper Co. in ‘71 to form Appleton Papers, Inc. Commonly known as Appleton Papers Locks Mill, it has been controlled by several different domestic and foreign owners over the years. It was separated from Appleton Papers in ‘00 and became Appleton Coated, LLC. Ten members of the mill’s management purchased the facility from France-based Sequana SA on 19 Dec. ’14. Forced into receivership, it was purchased by scrap dealers, Industrial Assets Corp. and Maynards Industries USA, in Oct. ’17. They bought it to shut it down and gut it. By some miracle, they changed their minds and restarted the paper machines. The facility was re-named Midwest Paper Group ca. 19 Apr. ’18. McKinley Paper Co., a subsidiary of Mexico-based Bio PAPPEL, purchased the facility ca. 3 Feb. '22. There are flashing blue lights on both sides of the driveway (at left) and a sign that says "Train in the area when flashing, proceed with caution". The RR crew turns on the lights when they arrive. There used to be crossing gates at both blue lights.

A FV&LS (or FOXY) train, with a particularly unfriendly crew, feebly attempts to temporarily spot a boxcar as they service the Midwest Paper Group mill at Combined Locks, WI, via former CN, historically C&NW, rails on 22 Mar. '22. Unfortunately, this crew member failed to adequately set the brakes on this boxcar. As soon as the locomotives uncoupled, the boxcar obediently followed right behind them. It rolled far enough to foul the spur from which they intended to extract several other boxcars. I almost never experience schadenfreude, but in this particular instance, I did. This antagonistic train crew reported me the Outagamie Co. Sheriff's Dept. As I was watching them switch the mill, I saw a deputy pull up to a member of the train crew. The crew member pointed to me and then the deputy drove up to me. The friendly and professional deputy rolls down his window and says, "There is some concern down by the mill about what you are doing up here." I told him, "I'm just watching the train." He said, "You're OK. You can keep doing what you're doing." We wished each other a good day, and he drove away. I was standing on a public sidewalk 400' from railroad property. Founded in 1889 (some references state 1892) as the Combined Locks Paper Co., it became Combined Paper Mills, Inc. in ‘46 after it purchased a paper mill in PA. Acquired by the National Cash Register Co. in ‘69, it was merged with Appleton Coated Paper Co. in ‘71 to form Appleton Papers, Inc. Commonly known as Appleton Papers Locks Mill, it has been controlled by several different domestic and foreign owners over the years. It was separated from Appleton Papers in ‘00 and became Appleton Coated, LLC. Ten members of the mill’s management purchased the facility from France-based Sequana SA on 19 Dec. ’14. Forced into receivership, it was purchased by scrap dealers, Industrial Assets Corp. and Maynards Industries USA, in Oct. ’17. They bought it to shut it down and gut it. By some miracle, they changed their minds and restarted the paper machines. The facility was re-named Midwest Paper Group ca. 19 Apr. ’18. McKinley Paper Co., a subsidiary of Mexico-based Bio PAPPEL, purchased the facility ca. 3 Feb. '22. There are flashing blue lights on both sides of the driveway (at left) and a sign that says "Train in the area when flashing, proceed with caution". The RR crew turns on the lights when they arrive. There used to be crossing gates at both blue lights.

A FV&LS (or FOXY) train, with a particularly unfriendly crew, parallels Garner's Creek and crosses State St. as it prepares to service the Midwest Paper Group mill at Combined Locks, WI, via former CN, historically C&NW, rails on 22 Mar. '22. Founded in 1889 (some references state 1892) as the Combined Locks Paper Co., it became Combined Paper Mills, Inc. in ‘46 after it purchased a paper mill in PA. Acquired by the National Cash Register Co. in ‘69, it was merged with Appleton Coated Paper Co. in ‘71 to form Appleton Papers, Inc. Commonly known as Appleton Papers Locks Mill, it has been controlled by several different domestic and foreign owners over the years. It was separated from Appleton Papers in ‘00 and became Appleton Coated, LLC. Ten members of the mill’s management purchased the facility from France-based Sequana SA on 19 Dec. ’14. Forced into receivership, it was purchased by scrap dealers, Industrial Assets Corp. and Maynards Industries USA, in Oct. ’17. They bought it to shut it down and gut it. By some miracle, they changed their minds and restarted the paper machines. The facility was re-named Midwest Paper Group ca. 19 Apr. ’18. McKinley Paper Co., a subsidiary of Mexico-based Bio PAPPEL, purchased the facility ca. 3 Feb. '22. Unbelievably, this antagonistic train crew reported me the Outagamie Co. Sheriff's Dept. As I was watching them switch the mill, I saw a deputy pull up to a member of the train crew. The crew member pointed to me and then the deputy drove up to me. The friendly and professional deputy rolled down his window and said, "There is some concern down by the mill about what you are doing up here." I told him, "I'm just watching the train." He said, "You're OK. You can keep doing what you're doing." We wished each other a good day, and he drove away. I was standing on a public sidewalk 400' from railroad property. At no point during the brief chase on this day did I set foot off of a public sidewalk or public street.

A FV&LS (or FOXY) train runs through a draw and parallels Elm St. as it descends the grade down to the bank of the Fox River via former CN, historically C&NW, rails at Combined Locks, WI, on 22 Mar. '22.