Whitcomb 65-ton diesel switcher locomotive - American Steel Foundries' Granite City Works No. 8 - real world MOC

[Murdoch17]

In 1948 the Whitcomb Locomotive Company of Rochelle, Illinois built this 65-ton industrial switcher, model 65-DE-17-A for American Steel Foundries - specifically the Granite City Works (of Granite City, Illinois) as their locomotive number 8. The diesel has a B-B wheel classification, cost $49,775 when new, and was built with two Hercules, 4 cycle, 6 cylinder diesel engines that each produced 240 horsepower, for a total of 480 HP. (These were later replaced with 200 HP Cummins engines, giving it 400 HP.) The loco has a top speed of 41 MPH and was donated in 1980 to the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis by American Steel Foundries.

My unpowered LEGO version is 7 studs wide with both the front and back ends being identical.

Is this the front, or is it the rear? Nobody knows for sure!

Thoughts?

[kozoz]

Hi!

It turned out great! 
I missed the slanted engine roofs a bit, but looking at pictures of the original locomotive, with this paint job the slant isn't as noticeable and your build reflects the model quite well.

[Murdoch17]

1 minute ago, kozoz said:

Hi!

It turned out great! 
I missed the slanted engine roofs a bit, but looking at pictures of the original locomotive, with this paint job the slant isn't as noticeable and your build reflects the model quite well.

Thanks @kozoz, and welcome to Eurobricks!

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

Not only is it very similar to the original but the 7 stud format is perfect! 

[Murdoch17]

37 minutes ago, LEGO Train 12 Volts said:

Not only is it very similar to the original but the 7 stud format is perfect! 

Thank you @LEGO Train 12 Volts!

[bogieman]

Nice model, that locomotive left the property before I worked at ASF-Granite City for a couple of years. They had a GE centercab when I was there. The second picture in @kozoz's post shows an "F" to define what is the front. Most every locomotive in the US carries a similar designation so it's not ambiguous what end is which when reporting defects, for example.

[zephyr1934]

On 9/22/2025 at 2:03 PM, Murdoch17 said:

Is this the front, or is it the rear? Nobody knows for sure!

Actually, the front still has to be defined since radio communication and some hand signals might say "move forward 6 cars" or what not. Although the control stand will usually be consistent with which end is forward, I believe the official definition is whichever end has the small "F" on the side.

 

Anyway, is that a technic 1x1 beam on top of a fez? If so, well played, potentially a good replacement for the hard to find palm tree segments.

 

What about using in place of for the cab windows. The square corners might be more prototypical.

 

[Murdoch17]

6 hours ago, bogieman said:

Nice model, that locomotive left the property before I worked at ASF-Granite City for a couple of years. They had a GE centercab when I was there. The second picture in @kozoz's post shows an "F" to define what is the front. Most every locomotive in the US carries a similar designation so it's not ambiguous what end is which when reporting defects, for example.

It's very neat you worked there @bogieman! Also, I know about the 'F', but my LEGO model lacks that detail. Thus my comment about it being unknown which was the front and rear, as in my second picture.

1 hour ago, zephyr1934 said:

Actually, the front still has to be defined since radio communication and some hand signals might say "move forward 6 cars" or what not. Although the control stand will usually be consistent with which end is forward, I believe the official definition is whichever end has the small "F" on the side.

 

Anyway, is that a technic 1x1 beam on top of a fez? If so, well played, potentially a good replacement for the hard to find palm tree segments.

 

What about using in place of for the cab windows. The square corners might be more prototypical.

 

You are correct about the fez and technic piece @zephyr1934! I'll also keep your window idea in mind. Thank you!

[zephyr1934]

If you're building your way through the museum of transportation, someday you should do Smokey (grin)...
 

[Murdoch17]

12 hours ago, zephyr1934 said:

If you're building your way through the museum of transportation, someday you should do Smokey (grin)...
 

SNIP

That is the one thing at the museum I will never build @zephyr1934. I could never do it justice, plus just looking at it gives me a migraine!

[zephyr1934]

15 hours ago, Murdoch17 said:

That is the one thing at the museum I will never build @zephyr1934. I could never do it justice, plus just looking at it gives me a migraine!

Yeah, I can see how that could induce a headache. I think it is buildable, but no one would believe it's real.

[Shiva]

Nice build :)

For that colourful locomotive? The chimney and lamp might be troublesome. The rest? I think you can do.

[Murdoch17]

15 hours ago, Shiva said:

Nice build :)

For that colourful locomotive? The chimney and lamp might be troublesome. The rest? I think you can do.

One side is totally colorful, the other half of the loco is painted normally.  Also, thanks for the compliment, @Shiva!

[DAN42BR]

7 studs, perfect!
The locomotive is not only very similar to the original! 
The square windows in the middle would be nicer!

[Murdoch17]

7 hours ago, DAN42BR said:

7 studs, perfect!
The locomotive is not only very similar to the original! 
The square windows in the middle would be nicer!

Thank you @DAN42BR for your kind compliments! I'm still mulling over changing the windows...

[Murdoch17]

Thanks for the front-paging of this topic @JopieK - I never would have thought this little industrial switcher would be this popular!

[Brickwolf]

Great rendition of the Whitcomb. Kudos for making it  7-wide.

[Murdoch17]

1 hour ago, Brickwolf said:

Great rendition of the Whitcomb. Kudos for making it  7-wide.

Thanks @Brickwolf!