Believe me, I was excited to give it a spin the first time I saw it. I expected some low speed high RPM power out of it but was totally unimpressed when all I got was a bunch of noise. We had some interesting power options on that job at times, which was a bum job that would spot and pull the RIPs, among other things. I had a pair of SD70MACs for a couple months. Try spotting cars with those. It's like trying to kill mosquitos with a sledge hammer. Loads of brute force, but not exactly a precision instrument. Not on my crew, but somebody on a different shift wanted to get rid of that slug set so they got wise and told the trainmaster it was out of fuel. I found it in the roundhouse when I showed up to work the next day. The trainmaster, who had promoted from mechanical, was a little embarassed when he told me I needed to get the slug set from the roundhouse.
I know what kind of sight - and feeling that is: Exporail, last year. They're running short train rides with a vintage commuter coach and ex-CN SW1200RS 1382. This is the return trip back to the main museum grounds. Bonus was a cab visit, engine idling: Loved every minute.
We had promises, empty ones, of snow a few days ago. But all I got was some pictures of trains, and MOW stuff!
Arriving at Montgomery, AL in May 1985, former L&N U-25B 1624 is on the point. That's the trainshed of Montgomery Union Station in the background.
Looks like home is Enterprise Alabama, a few hours south so not too far I guess. I'd never heard of it until I saw this loco.
I think the Wiregrass Central (the region around and south of Montgomery is called the "wiregrass") operates from Opp, AL on a former L&N branch and from Enterprise, AL on a former ACL branch, at least they did in June of 1988 when I shot these.
Nice '73 - '74? Monte. Actually, looking at the colors again, it might be a '77. My '77 Cutlass was those same colors. Looks like somebody just bought it, too. Doug
Re, the red Wiregrass GP. I always forget the louver arrangements on the early GP's to differentiate. Doug
