SD50 707 sitting behind the engine house, Heavener, OK, Sept. 11, 1988. This unit, besides being used as road power, was also used with another six-axle diesel for helper service over the Rich Mountain grade to the south. GP40 790 (of ICG ancestry) with sister GP40. Both will most likely go out on a local or the Ft. Smith Dodger (turn). Both diesels are off the roster. SD40-2 638, from the first order of SD40-2s, third unit of a northbound train, Wicks, AR, April 1990. SD40-2 657, trailing unit in power cionsist of N/B train, awaits fresh crew in Heavener, OK. After recrewing, the train will roll about a mile or so further north to the mainline refueling facility, then resume its run to Kansas City. SD50704 with sister 705, the helper set to assist trains over the grades south of Neosho through northwest Arkansas. Sister unit 705. 704-713 were SD50s delivered to KCS in the early 1980s; previous numbers 700-703 are "SD40X" demo units, the only four of its type built and a precursor for the SD50 model built by EMD. Nortbound train with SD60 720, presumably part of a helper set to assist this train over the Rich Mountain grade north of Mena, AR. It and a sister SD60 leads this train north of Wicks, AR, April 1990 SHould any of these diesels come to grief, this crane will be put to use- just as soon as it's put back together. Heavener, OK.
Couple of interesting triva bits about Heavener: Besides being the midway point between Shreveport, LA and Kansas City, Heavner is a crew-change point for all trains, and the base for the north & south locals, as well as the Ft. Smith Dodger (turn), which uses track it purchased from BN from Poteau, OK northeast through Oklahoma's only RR tunnel near Jensen to Ft. Smith (this track was once owned & operated by Frisco). Also, helper sets (SD60s back in the 1990s, don't know what they're using these days) are stationed here to help trains over the Rich Mountain grade to the south. All the tracks are laid with CWR- inlcuding the wye, enginehouse tracks, and yard tracks. East of Heavener, Runestone Mountain rises- it's allegedly the site where an ancient Norse writing, or rune, was found. Inexplicably, several Indians found by French explorers in the area in the 1700s had blue eyes, not a normal trait of native Americans. So did the Vikings get into this part of America? Could be......At any rate, Runestone Mtn. is also a state park, and is a great place for hang-gliders to have fun.
Here's some more, this time from the 1908s: Southbound KCS freight at Ashdown, AR 10-25-1980, with SD40-2 666 on the point. No idea if this particular locomotive was nicknamed "the Beast". SD40-2 692 on southbound train in Hodgens, OK, south of Heavener. I took this shot 20 feet away from a barn in which a cockfighting match was taking place- I got the shot, then got the hell out of Dodge (or Hodgens, if you will..... ) SD40X 702 at the enginehouse in Heavener. It was one of only four built by EMD, and was the testbed for the SD50. SD50 706 on the wye behind the enginehouse, Heavener, March 1987. The vertical real estate in the background is Runestone Mountain, which is both a state park and the site of the find of what is believed to be writings, or runes, of Viking eexplorers.
