Towns and Nature: Oelwein, IA: CGW Roundhouse, Railyard and Car Shops

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Oelwein, IA: CGW Roundhouse, Railyard and Car Shops

Roundhouse: (Satellite)

Car Shop: (Satellite, now removed)

Richard Bruehahn posted
I’m originally from Oelwein Iowa. This is where most of my collection of photos are from. This is an overhead view of the repair shops of the Chicago Great Western and later Chicago Northwestern Railroad before they were torn down. The building with the brown roof on the right is still there but the long building on the left is gone. I also have photos of some of Marquette Iowa Milwaukee Railroad yards. Will do some more posts later.

Allen Troupe posted
The CGW Roundhouse in Oelwein today (taken 24 Oct 2016).

It looks like it was used until recently by Transco Railway Products. This is the first time I have seen a turntable replaced by a bunch of turnouts.

Satellite

Update:

Marty Bernard posted
Rick Burn found Chicago Great Western 63A and 63B (TR2A and TR2B -- affectionately call a Cow and a Calf) in Oelwein, IA in March 1967. Note, the Calf has stacks because it is a fully functional switcher but without a cab. A Slug on the other hand is usually a big chunk of concrete with traction motors powered by it's Mother.
Bob Davis SP had four EMD "Cow and Calf" sets. One of the "Cows", TR-6A 1100 is preserved at the Western Pacific RR Museum.
Berne Ketchum At the right is CGW R-1, the boxcar converted to a mobile classroom in which Rules Examiner D.J. Gifford conducted rules classes and examinations. Giff had earlier been a dispatcher.
James Belmont Union Pacific assigned two sets of TR5 transfer switchers to Provo, Utah in the 1970s.
https://flic.kr/p/214nPFu

Kirk Brust posted three images with the comment: "Here is the Chicago Great Western Roundhouse in Oelwein, IA. Ground photo is mine, about 2007. Aerial views Bing maps."
Sam Hill

Just asking.... did originally have a turntable or was it always like this ?
What’s the history?

Dennis Eggert posted
Several F-units were on the ready tracks at Oelwein. They were the primary power used on the former CGW lines.
Don Heddinger: They were a bitch to use doing 'station switching', and tough to get in...with or without a grip. Warmer than geeps in the winter and hotter than hell in the summer. Walk back through the engine room and the soles of your boots were coated with oil and your ears were ringing. Worked 3 or 4 years with them but would have preferred geeps...

Marty Bernard posted four images with the comment: "Rick Burn took these Chicago Great Western scenes in Oelwein, IA in March 1962. Rob ONeill just found the third picture. Now I've added a fourth photo. We have been talking about two different places!"

[Rick's photos would be of the car shop.]