I felt Brakie's pain when he bemoaned the fact that first-generation Geeps would not be seen on RA lines, so I thought I'd post this beauty here: It's an ex-CNW GP7 I shot at Greenwood. MS in late September 1994. It's shown resting in the Columbus & Greenville yard awaiting its next assignment.
My bad, Boxcab- I forgot to mention the CF7 behind it. Yes, CAGY had several of these beasts, and for some time they operated in just the Santa Fe colors with CAGY reporting marks. As far as being everywhere, you're right about that, too- judging by the many paint schemes Athearn offers for the CF7,and the CF7s I've seen in action at the large flour mill in Saginaw, TX, Lone Star Steel in Lone Star, TX, and Kraft Foods in Sherman.
friscobob,Thanks for sharing that picture.. As I mention many times before I am a big fan of the GP7/9 and the CF7 as well as the SW1200 and 1500 switchers and big fan of short lines..
After the Frisco, my next-favorite railroads are regionals and shortlines. Both have such a diverse amount & type of motive power (exception- A&M and Apache's Alcos, which are sweet runners), and handle commodities of all kinds. And with the number of locomotive leasing companies, you can get well-painted diesels or "rent-a-wreck" specials the their owners' previous paint schemes. Makes for a "dog's breakfast" lashup sometimes.....
E&N GP9 1001 on the drop pit at the Wellcox yard in Nanaimo. This unit, and sister unit 1002 are still in service on the Cascade and Columbia River Railroad who operate a number of first generation Geeps. Gordon Hulford photo. The 1001 was not popular with the crews, it was pretty beat up. Still had its original EMD oildrum control stand. [ 17. September 2004, 09:21: Message edited by: E&NRailway ]
Built for the New York Central, number 5996. Rebuilt by Conrail. Sold to Kiamichi Railroad, who chopped the nose and converted it to Short hood forward. It was then sold to RailAmerica.
That unit has seen the world! From sea to shining sea. I wonder if it has travel stickers on the cab? Boxcab E50
Great photos of those lovely First Gen. GP's. While I don't have any photo's myself,to offer I have seen more First Gen. GP's pictures on the Short Line Carolina Southern. Don't know if this is allowed but try this link. www.trainweb.org/ncrail/images for more about Short lines of North Carolina. [ 23. September 2004, 06:51: Message edited by: Peter_PH ]
No, but it's had everything from the NYC oval to PC's "loving worms" to Conrail's can opener to an Indian warshield on its outside. A bit of further info on that and the 1002- Both were rebuilt by Conrail at their shops and renamed GP10s- when Kiamichi got the 1002, 1002 and four others like them, they were renumbered into Kiamichi's numbering scheme (700s for GP7s, 900s for GP9s, 1000s for GP10s, etc). Five out of the six were chopnosed and reconfigured for short-hood-forward operation by Kiamichi (swapping out control stands were apparently a bit more than they wanted to attempt, but the shop crews did a decent job at the reconfiguration). Sorry, but I don't remember the numbers Conrail assigned these particular engines after rebuilding.
1001 was renumbered 7553 by Conrail after the rebuild, IIRC. Interesting story behind the 1001, after RailAmerica purchased/leased the E&N from CP in 1999 1001 and 1002 showed up in Vancouver dead. RailAmerica sent them to the SRY shops to try and get them running. The E&N was about to send both back when Southern Rail Link got the 1001 running. The E&N kept the 1001 and traded 1002 to the Cascade and Columbia River Railroad for the 344(now ENR GP38 3870). [ 11. October 2004, 20:37: Message edited by: E&NRailway ]
