General
MS-65 is one of many four-wheel industrial locomotives built after the start of World War II to aid in the industrial war effort. It uses many components that are used on AE&FRE #5, a 45-ton eight-wheel locomotive. It was built with the same model Cummins diesel engines that are used in #5 (it has two engines) and was even upgraded in later years with the same model Cummins diesel that #5 was, which are still in use in many highway trucks. This diesel engine coupled to a generator, which in turn supplies electricity to a GE 733 motor on the rear axle. Power is then transferred to the front axle via chain drive. (#5 uses side rods to transfer power to the other axle.) In effect MS-65 is a little more than half the power of #5.
History
Completed in September 1942 it was assigned to the Geneva, Utah works of Columbia Steel (a USS Steel subsidiary) but not long after it was transferred to Columbia’s Pittsburg, California works. It has been suggested that it was narrow gauge when built but inspection suggests it was always standard gauge, as were the serial numbers of units constructed before and after it. Sometime after World War II it ended up in the hands of Duffy and Son of Columbus, Ohio who specialized in leasing and selling used industrial locomotives especially those made by General Electric. It is believed that CTA purchased the locomotive from Duffy to replace our L-202 as the railroad freight interchange locomotive at its 63rd Street materials yard in Chicago. Unfortunately, MS-65 does not have a trainline for freight car air brakes and it was discovered that a 50-ton plus freight car of structural steel or rail could “push” it around when trying to stop. It was in turn replaced by a used 45-ton diesel of the same model as our #5 which could operate the freight car brakes. By 2008 MS-65 was trucked to Skokie Shops and fitted with standard diesel locomotive snowplow pilots and Ohio Brass Form 5 couplers so it could move rapid transit cars. Modern “Shuttlewagon” shifters with rubber tires which allow them to be driven off the tracks, replaced it. It was declared surplus and through a generous donation the museum was able to purchase it for scrap value on July 15th, 2020. The windows were all replaced, and some servicing done so it could run itself off the lowboy trailer on August 15th onto the rails of the museum. After a number of adjustments, it became a reliable operating unit. Besides the rapid transit couplers, we also have its’ standard railroad couplers, should the need arise to use them.
Narrative
MS-65 is a very useful tool for moving our all-electric rapid transit cars in case of a power outage or breakdown. A number of fellow North American trolley museums have similar 23- and 25-ton diesel locomotives for use as shop switchers. During our CTA 75th Anniversary celebration on October 2nd, 2022, our little diesel along with L-202 participated in the longest train of Chicago rapid transit equipment ever run on the Fox River Line and perhaps even longer than the freight trains of both the electric and diesel eras of carload freight operation.
Author: Joseph Hazinski, curator