GP15-1 104 at rest in Ashdown, AR, Oct. 25, 1980. This was my 24th birthday, but little did I realize that well before I turned 25 Frisco would be gone- in fact, it had less than a month of indepencence. GP38-2 673 on point of eastbound local 3011 in Vinita, OK, July 1980. Afton is 15 miles east, and the MKT mainline is just a few hundred yards ahead. Just after sundown, train 33 is roaring toward Afton on its westward trek to Tulsa, OK and Irving, TX. Trains 32,33,34 and QLA all have a speed limit of 60 MPH, and have lately been sporting the new GP40-2s in lashups of four (much like this train). The track just in front of me is the Afton Subdivision from Afton to Edward (just south of Ft. Scott), KS. 33 is racing on the Cherokee Sub. The Afton depot is about a quarter mile west behind me. July 1980. Sorry, but a quartet of Beansniff engines just ain't the same...............
Nice shots Frisco. I remember when the Frisco was merged into the BN. We lost a lot of neat class one railroads in that time span. WP would be sucked into the UP yellow around that time frame. D&RGW would dance with the SP in about 1985, IIRC. The government let the Rock Island die. Yes, current railroading sure has lost a lot of character. Greg Elems
Such as the Milwaukee Road...... Adding the RI and Milw together, there must have been around 15,000 miles of track gone! Boxcab E50 [ 23. August 2003, 21:46: Message edited by: BoxcabE50 ]
The Milwaukee Road! How could I forget that jewel. With the making of CR and the spliting of it here recently, I dare say we have lost another 15,000 miles of track. I think I will retreat into my model world. Greg Elems
Wish I had access to my old orders and old time papers. That could be me on 33 on a quick run back to Tulsa. That was the year I was going thru engineers training in Tulsa. Bring on more of those wonderful Frisco photos.
