#emdgp7

Northbound Local

Here’s a local job working at Mitchell, Indiana.

The Louisville & Nashville had absorbed the regional Monon (which existed completely within the state of Indiana, with access to Chicago and Louisville) about six years prior to this photo being made. Looks like two GP7s make up the power for this train. The Monon crossed over the Baltimore & Ohio at this location (within the frame, but it’s difficult to see).

Something just struck me: these things (first generation diesel locomotives) are akin to a manual exposure, manual focus film cameras—like I was using at the time.

Still Working (?) in Emporia, Indiana

I have an on-going series I call “still working” that features older locomotives that have been relegated to switching, usually grain elevators or cement plants. I’d like to put this former ATSF GP7, built in December of 1952, in that camp, but it just seems that it’s not moved in quite a while. The unit would have come from the factory with a high-short hood, but would have the “Topeka Cab” added later when rebuilt. It should be said that this is CSX territory, with the heritage of the line being that of the Big Four.

Into the Hole

This is an eastbound B&O local train taking the siding into Mitchell, Indiana. The first image is badly backlit, but one can make out the GP7 leading the way along with the distinctive CPL standing along side. The second unit is equipped with torpedo tubes for passenger service—most likely a GP9.

As I turn toward the east for the second picture, we can now clearly see the distinctive Baltimore & Ohio so-called “wagon top” caboose bringing up the rear. This car was most likely built in 1945.

The Rock

To go with my previous post of a Rock Island crummy (a day or two ago), here are a couple of EMD GP7s. Again, I believe this to be Peoria, Illinois (since confirmed on FB). The two units were rebuilt just a year previous and put in the new livery featuring very different colors and a graphic stating boldly "The Rock" on the side.

The Kyle Railroad

Upon a drive out to Denver, I happened upon these two scenes along the Kyle Railroad. This line was formerly the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific, which fell into bankruptcy and abandoned the line. One can go to this link to read the history of the short line that would revive the route—which still operates today under the Genesee & Wyoming umbrella.

While I have very little to go on here, I believe these images were taken between Goodland, Kansas, and Limon, Colorado. The locomotive in the first image is an EMD GP7 formerly of the Burlington Northern (still wearing the green of that road) and the Great Northern prior to that.