Last Monday I was on my way back to Muskogee after spending the weekend at home. I take US 69/75 from Sherman to Muskogee, and it largely follows close to the former MKT line from the Red River to Big Cabin, OK. As I was crossing the Arkansas-Oklahoma (former Rock Island Choctaw Route), I spotted an eastbound train with two of their red & yellow GEs leading. I got off of 69, and headed east on US 270 (which follows the A-OK to Wister), got ahead of this train east of Krebs, and headed down a side road to wait for it. Which I did for a while, as train speeds are 10 MPH. Eventually, this appeared: Two GE Super-7 rebuilds leading 14 cars from the UP interchange at McAlester back to Wilburton, 30 miles east. Here's a closer shot of the power: Note the Blomberg trucks- IIRC, these 2300 HP rebuilds were former CSX. Also note the A-OK logo on the nose- resembles the Rock Island shield, but lacks the center spike at the bottom. Going-away shot of the power: I had never seen an A-OK train west of Wilburton until this one day. Well worth the detour.
And here Atlas has announced the release of a B23-7 (DCC or DCC-ready) in A-OK colors for June ......................
A-OK got some Ex-BNSF engines which they patched and are running. They have the Rock Island sheild placed over the BNSF on the front and A-OK where the BNSF swhoosh usually is on the sides. Its look pretty goof for a patch job though. Don't know how long till these recieve CRIP/A-OK colors though. Ship it on the Frisco!!! Murphy Jenkins
