"Home-Made" Freight Motor
American Aggregates

at South Lyons, Michigan on March 21, 1970
American Aggregates was one of the leading suppliers of construction materials during the 20th Century, with facilities and quarries from New Mexico to New York. Three of those operations were located in southern Michigan and employed a motive power roster comprised of eight diesels and four ex-interurban freight motors. From a railfan perspective, the most interesting American Aggreates-owned Michigan property was a very large digging in the Brighton / South Lyon area (25 miles northwest of Detroit). At one time or another, six different locomotives were used to work the quarry and haul loads to a connection with the Chesapeake & Ohio railroad. The roster included three 65-Ton Whitcomb center-cabs, a 50-Ton Porter center-cab and two scavenged ex-interurban freight motors.

The Brighton site was also home to one other large unusual "critter." It was an ungainly looking freight motor whose actual history still remains shrouded 46 years after the above picture was taken. One report shows that it was built in 1920 by American Car & Foundry for the Interstate Public Service's electrified lines. A second report suggest the electric loco was built in 1917 for the Kansas City, Kaw Valley & Western. The two histories converge on the Indiana Railroad's roster of 1931. The loco underwent a major rebuilding and became Southern Indiana Railway #750 (an IRR subsidiary).

Sold in 1948 to American Aggregates, the #750 received another heavy rebuilding at the hands of Greenville Manufacturing Co. in Ohio. The installation of a diesel engine was a major component of the 54-ton locomotive's modernization.

R. Craig photo

Reference Sources: Extra 2200 South (Sept. & Oct. 1969, and Nov. & Dec. 1969)

Return to What Is That?

Return to The Diesel Shop