A 1949 diesel locomotive, once used to haul lumber and window frames through Andersen Corp.’s Bayport factory, has been restored after a year of laborious work by volunteers at the Minnesota Transportation Museum. The EMD SW1 locomotive represents a significant milestone in Minnesota’s rail history, marking a transition from steam to diesel engines that transformed industrial life post-World War II.
Volunteers, led by Tim Nelson, spent 11 months rebuilding the 44-foot locomotive, which had been stored for years. Due to the lack of replacement parts, they salvaged and fabricated new components using traditional methods. “They quit making these things in the 1950s,” Nelson said, highlighting the challenge.
The locomotive’s history dates back to the Wabash Railroad and was eventually donated to the museum with a request that it retain Andersen Corp.’s branding. The volunteers’ hard work has now preserved a piece of Minnesota’s industrial heritage, keeping the company’s legacy alive through this restored diesel engine.
Source: https://www.startribune.com/restored-1949-locomotive-rolls-again-at-minnesota-museum/601503953