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Jeep FC 170 hi-rail

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Boxcar Derailment
Engine #25 and Crew
#302 Builders plate
Mogul #38 Builders Photo
Mogul #53
KGB&W Combine
Locomotive #20
#18
GBW #101 (1938)
GB&W #302
GB&W #255
KGB&W #350
A&W X94
GBW #141
GB&W #399
KGB&W #257
FA-1 Builders Photo
"Roamer" China
HH 660 #101 at Norwood
A&W 3004
'51 Freight Train
Sleek Power
Ferry Yard
FA Train
'58 Freight Train
New Equipment
AHW #600
#309 High Hood
#310 Builders Photo
#302, #307 at Norwood
FA-1 Power
40' PS-1 Boxcar
RS-11 #309
#311 Builders Photo
End of an Era
Hard-Working RS-2
C-424 #311
Pullman-Standard Boxcar
RS-2 #304
C-424 #312
Caboose #609
C-424 #313
RS-3 #306
Caboose #607
RS-27 #310
#315 Builders Photo
#903
CNW 902
RS-2 #301
S-1 #102
S-1 #103
S-2 #201
RS-2 #302
RS-3 #305
RS-3 #307
RS-27 #310
Plow Train
Ballast Tamper
S-1 #102
RS-2 #301
RS-2 #303
C-424 #314
WRX
Business car #603
Burnt Boxcar
C-430 #315
WRX 9350
Business Car 1776
"Roamer"
C-424 #313
Leaving Bridge Yard
"All Red" RS-2
1776 at Wis. Rapids
Plover Plume
RS-2 #304
RS-20 #308
RS-2 #304
RS-27 #317
#315 in Shop
#315 in Wisconsin Rapids
Precision National 901
McGee Promoted
Train No. 1 at Norwood
Caboose 615
#310 at Green Bay
Conrail #2486
GB&W Adds Boxcars
#321
Jordan Spreader
GBW #315
Switching Power
Transfer Caboose
Transfer Caboose #101
Cupola Caboose
Alco Smoke!
Caboose #112
Auto-Train #901
Takin' Care of Business
LR&W on the GB&W
One Bay Open Hopper
Homer E. McGee #312
No. 4 at Amherst Junction
Wisconsin Rapids Winter
#320 at Whiting
Wisconsin Rapids Power
C-420/424 hoods
Business Train
Caboose #101
#323 at Wisconsin Rapids
#305 on the FRVR
#321 in Winter
Jordan Spreader
Dusk in Plover
#323 in Howard
"Sprint" Train No. 10
RSD-15 #2404
Homer E. McGee
Crew on No. 2
Train No. 4 at Plover
Alco RSD 15 #2405
C-420 #323
GBW #312
Trio of Power
West End of Norwood
RS-20 #305
WC #308
#319 on the CALM
Ex-GB&W in Arkansas
AHW Boxcar #4054
Caboose #101
Caboose #112
Boxcar #1001
Jordan Spreader X190
Caboose 115
What's Left of Norwood?
Side Dump Cars
GBW Gondola
605 Rediscovered!
RS-2s on the Move
Ex- GBW #308
Jeep FC 170 hi-rail
Car 54, Where Are You?
New Paint for #313
The End is Near for #22

  
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A Jeep four-wheel drive maintenance truck still carries traces of Green Bay & Western lettering.
The Jeep FC 170:

Willys Motors began production of the four-wheel-drive Jeep Forward Control (FC) truck in 1956. Two models were offered, the four-cylinder FC-150 and the six-cylinder FC-170. The FC-170 had a 3,500 pound payload capacity and a 110" truck bed that was actually longer than the wheelbase length!

Approximately 32,000 Jeep FCs were built before the end of production in 1965.

Modeling a Jeep FC:

You can base an HO scale model of the GBW's Jeeps on an EKO Jeep vehicle
($2.49 retail), although the EKO model is actually a Jeep FC-150, not a FC-170. The FC-150 had a shorter bed (6'-6" vs. 9'-0") and an inline 4-cylinder engine instead of an inline 6 -- although I suspect that that second fact won't be noticeable on an HO model!

GBW's Jeeps:

GBW Jeep in 2005

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GBW Jeep in 1962
Larger Image

The Green Bay & Western added two hi-rail Jeep FC 170s to its fleet in 1962; they remained in service until 1970 when Jameson Shipley's grandfather, worked for the Green Bay & Western Lines for many years, purchased the pair. Jameson is restoring one of the trucks.  You can still see traces of the Green Bay & Western lettering on the door, and the paint scheme is based on the red & gray scheme used on locomotives in that era.

The November 18, 1962 Green Bay Press-Gazette had the following article about these vehicles:

Area Railway Now Using Popular Jeep

Don't be surprised one of these days if you're flagged down by a four-wheel drive Jeep at a Green Bay and Western crossing anywhere between Kewaunee, Wis and Winona, Minn. This week American Auto sales in Green Bay delivered two of the versatile Jeeps to the locally based freight carrier, the only line which provides through service east and west across the state. The FC 170 Jeeps are fitted with special railroad wheels, but retain original rubber tired wheels for the road. The Green Bay and Western Jeeps won't be hauling freight. They're maintenance vehicles which will provide the railroad with speedy units to check rails, bridges and signal equipment on a daily basis.

Better Visibility

The cab-over-engine Jeep models were selected because of their better visibility, dependability and versatility, according to L. M. Becker, Vice-president of American Auto Sales. During the winter they will be equipped with snow plows that will make them completely maneuverable on the rails, highways and even over rough terrain. "The rugged construction and long recognized dependability makes it an important asset to a railroad which operates on a rigid time schedule that must be met and maintained," Becker declared. "This model Jeep is ideal for rail because it is fast, efficient and ready to go any hour of the day for regular or emergency services," he added.

Two Way Radios

The Jeeps are equipped with two-way radios for quick communication anywhere along the railroads 200 miles of lines. The radio equipment is particularly important in emergencies because the vehicles can move over the roughest kind of terrain off regular roads to reach any point along the line where trouble may occur.


L. M. Becker, Vice President of American Auto, R. A. Hagen, Roadmaster and L. H. Wolfe, Track Supervisor in front of GBW's Jeep FC 170 hi-rail vehicles and an Alco S-2 switcher.


 

Jameson Shipley photo, February 2005
This photo may not be reproduced without permission.

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 The Green Bay Route is maintained by Mark Mathu.
Visit the Guest Book or send comments to mark@mathu.com.
Updated April 12, 2012

[ Top of This Page


 The Green Bay Route is maintained by Mark Mathu.
Visit the Guest Book or send comments to mark@mathu.com.
Updated July 11, 2015