NORTH FREEDOM, Wis. — Mid-Continent Railway Museum is launching a project to restore to operating condition its Electro-Motive Corp. motor car , the oldest surviving piece of EMC equipment.
Montana Western No. 31, built by EMC in 1925 for Great Northern Railway as its No. 2313, is the 13th railcar built by the company that celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2022. It was featured in this Trains Live video last year. The museum said in a press release that it will work with FMW Solutions, a rail engineering firm with experience in preservation projects, to restore the gas-electric car, named as a Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark in 2003 by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The project is expected to cost $300,000; volunteers are welcome to support the project and contributions are welcome at the museum’s website.
“Great Northern No. 2313 is already an important display piece, but we want to provide visitors with an immersive and moving experience that tells the story of railroad technology through the last century,” said Rusty Schramm, project manager. “We have recently undertaken repairs to the roof, radiator, control system, and fuel tank, but the antique Winton engine has not operated since 1987, and will be our first major undertaking.”
Restoration of the engine will be aided by a large supply of original Winton parts donated to the museum by the Sperry Rail Service when it was retiring its Winton-engined rail inspection cars.
“As someone who has spent my career dedicated to the maintenance and preservation of EMD locomotives, having the chance to oversee the restoration of this historic engine is a distinct privilege,” said FMW Senior Mechanical Associate and Winton Project Lead Allen Rider. “The engine/generator arrived at the FMW Tennessee machine shop earlier this month, and we will begin the initial disassembly and inspection in the coming weeks.”
A formal restoration plan will be developed following that initial inspection and assessment, with engine restoration at the FMW facility in Soddy-Daisy, Tenn.
“Our goal is to have her up and running in time for her centennial in 2025,” Schramm said. “It’s a worthwhile goal and achievable with donations and volunteer help.”
— Updated on Jan. 3, 2024, to correct date of recognition by American Society of Mechanical Engineers to 2003.
In the meantime, CNW 4-6-0 1385 lays in pieces, out of service since 1998, for its FRA-mandated rebuild while the will and resources to get it done is squandered. Having an operating steam engine makes the Museum an attraction to a wide audience, while having an operating motor car elicits “yawn” from the public.
Should be neat to hear that old Winton gasser roar away. EBT M-1 has its original Brill inline 6 and you have to hear it.
More power to you dear Mid-Continent Railway Museum!
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
I always wanted to ride one of these. There was a motorcar on the Milwaukee Road out of Kansas City through my dad’s hometown. The locals called it “The Dude”.