I will never forget my encounter with the Blues. Cotton Belt's premier freight train was the Blue Streak Merchandise. It happened on December 2, 1972 along U.S. 67 in Maude, TEXAS. A railfan buddy and I had been up to Reader, Arkansas to see that steam tourist operation. returning to TEXAS we spotted a freight in the hole at Maude. The freight turned out to be the PSSE (Pacific Sunset East). The brakeman said they were waiting for two sections of the Blue Streak Merchandise and that they would be along shortly. Minutes later the Extra 8600 South screamed by at about 70 per. Heat waves rolled up to the side where we were standing. The train had two U33Cs, a U25/28B and 2 SD45s for power. Ten minutes later on his block the second section screamed past with Cotton Belt SD45 #8974 on the point of four U33Cs. After the train cleared the PSSE went on its way North with two U33Cs #8632 and 8723. We went back to Commerce. [ March 06, 2005, 07:58 AM: Message edited by: SSW9389 ]
Good story. Perhaps now you'll tell us what makes 9389 so special to you (besides the fact that it was the bicentennial unit). ------------------ Mike Smith lcso_927@hotmail.com Eugene, Oregon LCSO's RailPics ~ License and registration please... "She's not really gone if her memory lives on in our hearts." Southern Pacific 1865-1996
