| Chicago Rock Island & Pacific Railroad LWT-12 2 at the Rocket House around 47th Street in Chicago, Illinois on March 28, 1965, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler. Built in August 1955 as EMD 1001 (c/n 21464) on EMD Order 9002, it was one of two demonstrators that EMD fielded, this one operated on the NYC for several months in 1956 between Cleveland, Ohio and Chicago, Illinois in revenue runs. Later it demonstrated on the Santa Fe and the UP as the City of Las Vegas during the summer of 1957, but the train proved to be underpowered (1,200 horsepower and a single power truck) and required a helper to get over the Cajon Pass. Returned to EMD, it and demonstrator 1000 were sold to the Rock Island, ending their days in commuter service. A third LWT-12 engine was produced to power Rock Island Line's Talgo Jet Rocket train. Coaches were basically modified General Motors bus bodies and were known to be rough riders. By 1966, the Aerotrains were out of service, number 1 and coaches were scrapped, numbers 2 and 3 were donated to museums along with a couple of coaches each. This one ended up at the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin. |