The pay was low and erratic but being in the equipment business had its fringe benefits like the guided tours such as one that got us a trip through this great operation. This unit was originally... (more)

In VMV's heyday, they'd get a unit, slap VMV or PAL on the slide and assign it to PAL until the unit was sold, rebuilt or failed. The only trick was finding a PAL train running in the daytime. Th... (more)

In 1989, the AT&SF sold its former TP&W line to a new TP&W corporation, including 19 GP20 locomotives in the deal. A TP&W train in the 1990's typically included a consist of well-worn GP20s, some... (more)

AMARILLO TX Sept 11 1983 — Santa Fe GP7us 2208 and 2179 await an assignment at the engine facility. EMD built the unit as GP7 2740 (s/n 16384) in August 1952 and delivered it in zebra stripe pai... (more)

Originally N&W ex NS on lease to SP, all blotchy and decrepit. Sad for me as I remember seeing some of these new and blue and looking spiffy.

Central of Georgia F3(A) 904 with two GP7's on this southbound freight at Hapeville near Atlanta, Georgia on May 10, 1953. Photo by Ronald Sharpless, from my collection. ... (more)

Former CB&Q unit looks like it's had the course. Note that A-frame is not a building behind the locomotive but a rock screen. Photo by unknown. From my collection.

While the big H20-44s were working the road trains this unit had to stay home and perform the mundane switching jobs. Much appreciation to SWPC for permission to shoot, etc.

OKLAHOMA CITY OK (January) 1975 — ATSF F7A 275L gleams in the sun while pausing at Nowers Yard. EMD built the phase II unit in November-December 1953 (b/n 18923) and delivered it in blue with ch... (more)

A set of Southern Pacific power makes a move at the west switch of Mount Hebron siding. This location is on the Black Butte Subdivision between Klamath Falls and Dunsmuir.

Retired Santa Fe way car (a caboose for most of us) ATSF 999945 has taken on a second life as a yard office at Kaiser, the yard serving (surprisingly enough) Kaiser Steel Industries in Fontana, on... (more)

From another angle. All packed up and ready to go. Sold by a dealer to another industry, double reduction gearing and friction bearings dictate that it must ride to destination on other wheels. ... (more)

All packed up and ready to go. Sold by a dealer to another industry, double reduction gearing and friction bearings dictate that it must ride to destination on other wheels. Photo by Jim Satter... (more)

The northbound Coast Starlight prepares to stop at Mount Hebron, California on the Black Butte Subdivision. It will meet two opposing Southern Pacific freight trains there.

So many GE critters are custom in some way. These little locomotives are narrow, not narrow gauge, just narrow. Photo by Jim Satterwhite. From my collection.