The Little Joes are named after Stalin????

[sd45elect2000]

Here is the original caption from the photo.

Those old passenger cars were pretty heavy but 18,000 horsepower seems a little excessive. I would love to know the whole story behind that picture.

https://groups.io/g/MILW/topic/4710606#12092
Based off this post by Michael Sol you could "short time" the system in places for 30 minutes so it is within the realm of possibility, especially if they aren't loading near capacity.

I still suspect another reason besides needing the extra power.

I think the caption is an error. Way too much train for the steel gang. The gangs weren't afforded A/C the 4th car back appears to me to be a converted F-6 tender to a steam car.
 Who's steel train is it with those colors?
 1973 means that its NOT the Hiawatha.
The boxcabs were slow. like 35 MPH slow. The Joe's were much faster. Also, no white flags for an extra train. In 1973 as far as I know there were'nt any passenger trains on the schedule in that area this should be an extra train unless its running on another schedule. I think the date is in error too...

Randy

[nkalanaga]

It's also odd that the boxcabs have the middle pan up.  Usual MILW practice was to use the front one, over the operating cab.

There would almost have to be two crews, if the boxcabs are running.  They and the Joes wouldn't MU with each other. 

But I agree, that is excessive for that train.

[packers#1]

Wonder if it’s a power move of the boxcabs and middle pantograph is up to provide head end power to the trailing cars or something?

[sd45elect2000]

Wonder if it’s a power move of the boxcabs and middle pantograph is up to provide head end power to the trailing cars or something?

No head end power, all steam and batteries

[Missaberoad]

Are we certain that that is a steam generator car? It seems more likely that it and the other tender two cars ahead of it are both converted MOW tenders (likely fuel or water tanks) see photos below.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=5000444
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1937955
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1937953

In contrast here is a Milwaukee Steam Generator car in 1973.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/39840390@N07/49218663912

Searching the Milw Groups.io page there are multiple references to the Milwaukee system Steel gang train going west for the 1972/1973 seasons. also there is a second photo of the train, note the comments also reference the steel gang.

https://railpictures.net/photo/463984/

and at the risk of appealing to authority on page 129 of Fred Hyde's The Milwaukee Road there is a July, 1972 picture of the same train (in a slightly different configuration) on St Paul Pass with 2 GP9s.
Fred describes it as the "System Steel Gang Train"

As far as Who's cars/train it is I would assume Milwaukee, the head end car is an ice service wood reefer (in blue paint) and the balance of the train is in Milwaukee MOW paint (they used silver/grey in the 1960s/1970s) I'm not sure due to the poor quality of the photo but the 6th car in the consist may have ribbed sides

Here's some photos of similar cars (obviously not from the same train, but show the MOW scheme of the era)

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4569317
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4757753
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4932137
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4627569

I'm still very curious about the power setup, my admittedly limited research seems to show that it is possible (and did happen in very limited situations) but would be well beyond the capacity of the substations to run all 3 at their continuous ratings. also the 2 unit boxcab dead in tow between the Joes and the 3 unit boxcab adds extra interest.
If both sets of power are running you are absolutely correct there would be 2 engine crews. However I feel like there is more to the story and would love to hear from someone in the know.

Have a wonderful day hopefully keeping warm. (its a balmy sub -40 here this weekend)

[nkalanaga]

If you look real close, over the Joes, there are two sets of wires.  The one in front has the close-set hangers of the mainline dual trolley wire, while the rear set has wider spacing typical of sidings.  I wonder if the pantograph on the boxcabs is actually on a train in the siding, and all five boxcabs are dead-in-tow?