MILWAUKEE ROAD #1649
Builder: EMD
Build Date: November 1947
Type: NW2
Status: Display
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific (better known as the Milwaukee Road) No. 1649 was built in November of 1947. Constructed by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in LaGrange, Illinois, No. 1649 is an NW2 type diesel locomotive. It was designed for use as a switcher in railyards across the Milwaukee Road’s large network spanning from Indiana to the Pacific Northwest. Later on in its career, it was renumbered to 667, and carried that number until it was retired.
After it was retired, it was sold to a railfan in Rockford, Illinois, who was attempting to start a railroad museum there. When that effort failed, No. 1649 and Mississippi Eastern steam locomotive No. 303 were donated to the Monticello Railway Museum. Restoration of No. 1649 to operating condition commenced soon after its arrival at the museum, and it was completed in 2003. The locomotive operated at the museum until 2021, when it was taken out of service due to mechanical problems. Today, No. 1649 is on static display inside of the Nelson Crossing Carbarn with other equipment.
Scroll down to see more photos of No. 1649.
Operating as No. 667, the locomotive is pictured here at Mitchell, South Dakota on September 12, 1973.
Upon No. 1649's arrival to the museum, it was not running and desperately needed a lot of TLC.
Volunteers waste no time in inspecting the the prime mover. Once this inspection is complete, they will know the extent of the work needed to get it running.
It turned out that the prime mover was completely seized. Volunteers spent a lot of time working with lubrication devices and other tools to get the prime mover to operate again.
Removing the locomotive's hood allows easy access to all parts of the prime mover.
No. 1649's air compressor is removed and rebuilt.
No. 1649 sits in the shop with Southern No. 401 after significant prime mover work. The hood is being restored as well.
Volunteers had to cut out new interior panels for the cab.
The newly cut panels are installed.
The 12-567A prime mover and generator receive a fresh coat of paint.
The newly rebuilt air compressor is installed.
The front of the hood that contains the radiators and fan assemblies is washed after priming and sanding.
Volunteers install the center section of the hood.
The final details are being finished up. New exhaust stacks are installed, and No. 1649 is prepped for paint.
Having at least four different colors, this unit required a lot of tedious painting, then masking, followed by more painting.
The classic Milwaukee Road orange is applied.
After a three year restoration, No. 1649 emerges from the shop sporting its fresh coat of paint.
No. 1649 is immediately put into service switching Camp Creek Yard.