Photo courtesy William Raia, by Paul Stringham. Taken at Victoria, Illinois, August 19, 1955.

     Galesburg & Great Eastern Railroad locomotive Number 6 was a B-B diesel electric locomotive. This Whitcomb 80DE8 model (frame 60222) was built at works located in Rochelle, Illinois, in July 1943. It was formerly owned by Granite City Steel as their number 400. After the G&GE closed in the early 1960's, No. 6 and its sister No. 5 (2nd) went to the Allendale Mine, a Central Indiana Coal operation located near Wyoming, Illinois. Both locomotives have been described by Paul Stringham as being "very dark green -- almost Pullman green", with "gold lettering". The G&GE No. 6 engine then was sold to Southern Illinois Electric.

     The engine is still stored at a Southern Illinois Power Cooperative facility located at Lake of Egypt, Illinois, in unserviceable condition.

Photo by R. O'Connor . Taken at Lake of Egypt, Illinois, July 2001.

     Protected on both sides, the No. 6 remains intact if not in service. The power generating facility no longer receives coal deliveries by rail, and the locomotive is "for sale", according to plant officials. The engine remains an excellent candidate for museum restoration.

Roster information courtesy Jay Reed, Paul Stringham.