976 "City of West Branch" RETIRED
Alco C420
UNIT SUFFERED SEVERE FIRE DAMAGE ON 2-21-04
Photographs taken 2-23-04 by Jim Milnor Well-liked Alco C420 #976, the "City of West Branch," arrived in Bay City on 2-21-04 with a completely burned engine compartment from what had been a serious fire. The cause: a fuel line had burst, unfortunately, probably due to the extremely cold conditions of a Michigan winter. The previous night, the train was met near its namesake city by fire crews that assisted in extinguishing the blaze. Leading the train into the Bay City Yard was was C425M #1280 "City of Grayling," long hood forward, and unharmed by the accident.
The #976 had recieved an overhaul and rebuild in 2002 and sported this very attractive LSRC paint seen below. Unfortunately, on an already short-of-power railroad, recent reports indicate and are now validated that the #976 is a total loss and will not be repaired after its 28 years of service for the D&M/LSRC. Sources also indicated that the LSRC would be recieving 6 used MLW Alcos, M420s, 4 of which run and 2 which could be repaired or used for parts. Whatever may come, the 976 will be missed on the LSRC as it was a long time D & M favorite, going back to its arrival when it was painted to celebrate the Nation's Bicentennial in 1976 sporting bright red, white, and blue colors, and spent a many years providing fine pulling power. The LSRC will pull on just fine without her, though she will be missed.
Model: C420
Builder: American Locomotive Co.
Built: 1964
Horsepower: 2000
Ex: Long Island #208
Namesake: "City of West Branch"
Nickname: "Enduring Freedom"
Notes: Originally built for the Long Island RR as a Century 420 and was later upgraded in 1976 by Boise Locomotive Works, it was then sold to the Detroit and Mackinac RR in September of 1976. The unit was rebuilt by the LSRC in 2002 and repainted into the attractive LSRC blue paint scheme. Number 976 is often used on the Rock train out of National City during the months the mine there is in operation (March-November). The remainder of the year it serves in regular road freight service.
976 in the DM Turtle paint scheme, seen at Bay City in August of 2000.
