Chicago Great Western Railroad & It's Big Hogs Locomotives

This is A Super Thanks Video about the Chicago Great Western Railroad and it's 2-10-4 Texas "Big Hogs" Locomotives. The video gives us a brief history of the railroad and tells us about it's largest locomotive.

[@al007italia]

I grew up in Oelwein about 3 blocks South of the Roundhouse. Both of my grandfathers, an uncle and a great grandfather worked for the CGW.
I was 12 years old when the merger occurred. The CNW dealt a blow to Oelwein by what it did to the CGW. The UP didn't help. Fortunately Iowa Northern stepped in when theUP abandoned Oelwein.
It breaks my heart to see how much is gone every time I visit Oelwein. The Hub City Railroad Museum is doing what it can to keep the memory alive.
I love it when I see things like this video that helps kept the CGW memory alive. Thanks for posting it.

[@CGW116A]

Trancso stepped up and acquired the line from Dewar to Oelwein and formed the D&W Railroad. Intial plans was for Transco to also operate the line. Iowa Northern was interested as the operator, and operated it after Transco replaced about every 4th or 5th cross tie. A few years later the Flint Hills ethanol plant selected the location in Fairbank. And Iowa Northern benefitted greatly. It wasn't until 2020 that Iowa Northern acquired the line. Now with Canadian National acquiring Iowa Northern, it creates yet again another limbo situation if a down turn in traffic or industrial plant closure occurs.

[@roberthuron9160]

There were the CB&Q's 2-10-4's,another overlooked engine! Again,massive,and the Q also ran Praires and like the Milwaukee also had scads of Mikes! Interesting rosters!! Thank you,for getting those more obscure lines,and engines! Thank you 😇 😊!

[@TheRailroadCrossing-SteamPower]

Very cool!

[@dannyhonn973]

BLE 2-10-4 were copies of CBQ M4.
Wabash wanted to copy M4.

[@poowg2657]

My son, grandson and I took a side trip to Oelwein and got to see what was left of the roundhouse. I could easily imagine it filled with these locomotives. Cool video, enjoyed it much!

[@TheRailroadCrossing-SteamPower]

Thanks for sharing!

[@paulw.woodring7304]

I remember hearing that the CGW's nickname among some was the "Chicago Great Weedy", a commentary on it's right-of-way upkeep.

[@TheRailroadCrossing-SteamPower]

That's funny... Thing.. You could say the same about my property line easement. The City is suppose maintain it.. they never do. Guess what happens..

[@CGW116A]

Other railroads such as CNW, CBQ, MStL were just as weedy.

[@PaulfromChicago]

Thanks!!

[@christophereaves862]

Thanks, I’ve been wanting on someone to do a video about the Texas locomotives 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@TheRailroadCrossing-SteamPower]

You bet! I also did one from the Santa Fe a couple weeks ago.. Red Thumbnail.. You cant miss it.

[@Bob.W.]

Thanks.

[@TheRailroadCrossing-SteamPower]

You're welcome!

[@THOMAS81Z]

love this

[@TheRailroadCrossing-SteamPower]

Thank you!

[@dannyhonn973]

They were copies of Texas & Pacific 610.

[@TheRailroadCrossing-SteamPower]

Largely so, yes.. Refinements came later

[@NormanSilv]

Most of the CGW big steam was bought by DM&IR

[@TheRailroadCrossing-SteamPower]

Yeah, they were a big user of the Texas types.

[@CGW116A]

Most of the sources of CGW steam locomotive records for "the big texans" were scrapped. Do you recall the number or better yet road numbers for the steam locomotives were purchased by DM&IR?

[@NormanSilv]

@@CGW116A No

[@WAL_DC-6B]

The DM&IR also purchased 18 2-10-4 locomotives from the B&LE in 1951 and used them up to 1961. One survives today.

[@user-hu9si1ku6p]

AND THEY WERE CRAP , CONSTANTLY DERAILED WITH THE TRAILING TRUCK UNDER THE FIREBOX ...
THE FRAME WAS HINGED BEHIND THE LAST DRIVER ARTICULATED STYLE ....
THE FRAME WOULD GET HUNG UP WHEN GOING AROUND CURVES .....

[@TheRailroadCrossing-SteamPower]

Interesting about the hinge issue..

[@nothanksguy]

First. The first comment is officially a joke about "big hogs" bein slang for dongs nowadays