Elgin Joliet & Eastern

    Forming a loop of about a 30 mile radius around Chicago is the 'Outer Loop' RR, the Elgin Joliet & Eastern
    or simply the 'J' to local railfans. At one time they rostered 90+ locomotives from Baldwin and EMD. This RR
    transfers cars from the namesake towns to major RR interchanges as well as steel traffic on the SE side.
    I only got a couple of switchers and an SD38-2 on my visit in 1979.

    EJ&E 458
    EJ&E NW2m 458 - Possibly a rebuild as is 455, my roster shows this unit being an NW2.
    Note the full length radiator and 2-step taper back to the cab. A simple scheme which
    shows off all the detail well.

    The following is from: "The J, A Centennial History, Crossing Bridges As They Come"
    ...the J turned to Industrial Maintenance Service of Hammond, Ind., to replenish its switcher ranks. IMS brought the remains of some of the EMD-repowered center-cabs and cast-off switchers from a variety of trunk-line carriers, combining them into 14 serviceable NW2 and SW1200 units (446-453, 455-458, and 308-309).


    EJ&E 455
    EJ&E nw2m 455 - like 458 roster says NW2. Single taper to the cab and a full length rad
    a dead ringer for an SW9 or 1200. The 'J' did have 8 SW1200's but numbered 300-307.

    All photos were generously submitted by Brian Nicholson

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