SLSF train at Mississippi River

: Memphis, TN. summer, 1971

On route 70 crossing the Mississippi River at Memphis, eastbound Frisco train overtook our car.


full size map

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SLSF train

: Memphis, TN. summer, 1971

Eastbound SLSF train just before crossing the Mississippi River at Memphis, TN.

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MILW E9A #30A

: Chicago ILL, summer, 1971

Here at the Chicago Union Station, MILW commuter train departs the Windy City for the suburbs.
I identified this locomotive as 30A because it lacks cover at the right side of the head light.

MILW 30A photo at the Railroad Picture Archives web page;
MILW 30C photo at the Railroad Picture Archives web page;

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CSS 11th Street Station

: Chicago IL, summer, 1971

From E11th St viaduct, could see the platform of SOUTH SHORE's 11th Street Station. It was extended just near to the IC's Central Station: here, we can see both CSS and IC M.U. electric cars.


After almost five decades, I caught it again at 11th St, but this time in Michigan City, IN.

revised, Sep. 21, 2019

: Michigan City, IN. Sep. 5, 2019

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CSS train approaching 11th Street Station

: Chicago IL, summer, 1971

From E11th Street viaduct, caught CSS southbound train approaching 11th Street Station.
Not only trains and the wooden platform but the skyline of the WINDY CITY is also graceful in this photo.


大きな地図で見る

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BO RDC

: Washington DC autumn, 1971

At the Washington Union Station, found this equipment. This is a B&O RDC, maybe used for commuter service between Washington and Pittsburgh.

Iron fence prevented me from taking photos from the platform at this station.
One of these RDCs, #9941 is preserved at the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum.

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Amtrak, ex-PC Metroliner

: Washington DC autumn, 1971

At the Washington Union Station, found this equipment.
This is a Amtrak, ex-PC Metroliner consist. Amtrak took over the service from May 1, this year.

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PC ex-PRR GG1

: Washington DC autumn, 1971

On route 1 crossing the Potomac River at Washington DC, met this PC (or Amtrak) train.
This is a PC GG1 electric locomotive leading NYC scheme passenger cars.

PRR GG1 was built between 1934 and 1943 by GE and PRR, with twelve 385hp traction motors. The last 13 survived of 139 units built were retired in 1983.


full size map

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MP GP7 #332

: North Little Rock, AR summer, 1971

At MP's North Little Rock Shop, found this a little damaged locomotive.
This is MP GP7 #332 with "torpedo tubes". MP #332 was built in 1950 as MP #4147. Her second number was #300. #332 was her 3rd number. Her last MP number was #1750.

EMD GP7 was built between 1949 and 1952 with 1500hp prime mover. 2610 units were sold in United States.

This photo was first appeared in my "vague image" column.

The another fuzzy photo below represents eastbound MP train crossing Mill Creek at Russellville, AR.

: Russellville, AR summer, 1971


full size map

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SRS #132

: Knoxville, TN winter, 1970

From North Gay St. viaduct at Knoxville, one day found this equipment.
This is a Sperry Rail Service rail detector car SRS #132. SRS #132 was rebuilt in 1942 from SAL doodlebug #2003 built by St. Louis Car in 1925.

photo of SRS #132 found at RR Picture Archives site;

This photo was first appeared in my column mentioning graffitis.

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SM #107 and #206

: Knoxville, TN Nov 1970

On route 441 from Knoxville to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 2 locomotives were on display as a billboard for the nearby theme park.

The one shown above is the Smoky Mountain Railroad (SM) Consolidation #107. The locomotive was built in 1887 by Baldwin as East Tennessee, Virginia, and Georgia #419. She became SOU #107 in 1894, and SM acquired her from SOU in 1942. She was retired in 1954. Since then, she stands at the corner of route 441 and Veterans Blvd. in Pigeon Forge, TN.

The one shown below is SM Mogul #206. The locomotive was built in 1910 by Baldwin as Genesee & Wyoming #9. SM acquired her from Tennessee and North Carolina Railroad in 1938. She was featured in the Lucius Beebe's book "Mixed Train Daily" at its title-page. She was retired in 1954, and is now displayed at Chattanooga, TN.

According to Nov. 1954 Trains magazine, SM pacific #110 built also by Baldwin in 1911 pulled the last steam train into Knoxville.

information resources;

revised, May 18, 2014

revised, Apr 20, 2021

revised, Nov 4, 2021

: Knoxville, TN Nov 1970

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CO K-4 #2716

: Louisville, KY spring, 1971

At the Kentucky Railway Museum in Louisville, found this preserved locomotive . This is CO K-4 class Kanawha (Berkshire) #2716. The locomotive was built in 1944 by ALCO and retired in 1956. She arrived at KRM in 1959.

This photo was first appeared in my column "Virtual Trip with The Guide".

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UTAH Caboose #55

: Helper, UT Sep. 10, 2014

This UP CA-1 style caboose is found at Western Mining and Railroad Museum at Helper, Utah. This car is Utah Railway (reporting mark UTAH) caboose #55.

UTAH #55 was built in 1918 by Mt. Vernon Car Manufacturing Co. for UTAH. It was later steel sheathed by the railway. It now has Commonwealth trucks, but some vintage photos show it with Bettendorf trucks[1].

[1] 1967 photo of UTAH #55 with Bettendorf trucks found at Fallen Flag site;

: Helper, UT Sep. 10, 2014

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UTAH SD50S #6062 and 6061

: Martin, UT Sep. 10, 2014

These locomotives are found at Utah Railway (reporting mark, UTAH) Martin Locomotive Maintenance Shop. Martin is located at just north of Helper, Utah. These are UTAH SD50S’ #6061 and 6062.

UTAH SD50S’ #6061 and 6062 were built in 1982 from EMD kits by Clyde Engineering of Australia for Hammersly Iron. They came to Utah in 2001. Cab roof heat shield, cab window awnings and handrails show some differences from the pure EMDs.

* 1991 photo of Hammersly Iron #6061 found on web;
* 2006 photo of UTAH #6061 found at RR Picture Archives site;
* 2007 photo of UTAH #6062 found at RR Picture Archives site;

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UTAH Facilities at Martin

: MK50-3 #5003 in the shop

The vintage shop of Utah Railway at Martin housed MK50-3s in a silent manner, when we visited. Yard was full of not hoppers but tank cars and rails were rusted including the main. It seemed the railroad is subsisting by switching at Salt Lake City these days.

All photos taken on Sep. 10, 2014

: locomotive maintenance shop
: water tank
: yard, looking south

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CCRX (GEX) FD #40011

: Price, UT Sep. 10, 2014

This 250 ton 10-axle 29' deck FD is found at Price, Utah. It seemed the car recently unloaded the large transformer seen in the back of B end photo below.

CCRX #40011 was built in 1969 by Thrall Car Manufacturing Co. as GEX #40011, originally owned and operated by General Electric Co. Today, it is owned and operated by Contractors Cargo Co.

GEX 40011 Flat car:
According to Apr. 1974 ORER, GEX 40011 is shown with AAR Designation FD and description “Flat, Depressed Center, Length of Loading Platform 29’”. The inside length of this car is 85 feet, inside width 9 feet, height from rail to Platform 2 feet 11 inches and capacity 527,600 pounds.

* 2003 photo of GEX #40011 found at RR Picture Archives site;

: Price, UT Sep. 10, 2014
: Price, UT Sep. 10, 2014

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CBC Caboose #1

: East Carbon, UT Sep. 10, 2014

This bay window caboose is found at East Carbon, Utah on 125 Whitmore Dr. East Carbon is located about 18 miles east of Wellington. This car is Carbon County Railway #1.

CBC #1 is a caboose built in 1960 by Thrall Car Manufacturing Co. respectively for the railway. Side barely shows the CARBON COUNTY RAILWAY COMPANY lettering at its top: see vintage photos linked below to find how it was in the 70’s.

Carbon County Railway (reporting mark, CBC) was a coal hauling railway established in 1922 by Utah Coal and Coke Company, a subsidiary of Columbia Steel Corporation, later United States Steel Corporation.
It carried coal to Columbia Steel mill at Ironton, UT, and later also to Geneva Steel mill at Vineyard, UT after it reached Geneva mine in 1942. The 10.8 miles railway connected the mine and Rio Grande at Columbia Junction. The railway was shut down in 1982 due to the closure of the mine.

* 1972 photo of CBC #1 found at UtahRails site;
* 1977 photo of CBC #1 found at Fallen Flag site;

: East Carbon, UT Sep. 10, 2014

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CBC Facilities at East Carbon

: CBC Headquarter at East Carbon
: the yard through the window
: crossbuck at Columbia
: Utah Railway Standard Plans
: trailhead at East Carbon

Carbon County Railway was shut down in 1982. However, some remnants are still found around the area. Here are the remnants I found during the trip.

CBC headquarters building still remains at the former CBC East Carbon Yard. It still has the CARBON COUNTY RAILWAY CO. nameplate on the gable. Left of the structure in the photo above is the remnants of the coke oven.

The crossbuck is found at the end of S 100 W St. at Columbia. I believe this is the only CBC original crossbuck that still exists.

Former CBC right of way is converted to an ATV trail. The trailhead shown above is the point where Richard Steinheimer caught a CBC train pulled by a pair of SW1200s in the 60s. All photos were taken on Sep. 10, 2014.

The map below shows the location of CBC remnants.

* 1971 photo of CBC East Carbon Yard found at UtahRails site;



: trackside electronics box

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C&EI Caboose #unknown

: Alamogordo, NM. Sep. 9, 2015

This steel caboose is found at the Toy Train Depot at Alamogordo, NM. According to the information attached to the caboose, it’s one of the cabooses built for Chesapeake & Ohio by Magor Car Corporation between 1937 and 1949. They were later sold to Pere Marquette, Missouri Pacific and to Chicago & Eastern Illinois.

But its steps are not the cast C&O style but the conventional passenger car style; it more looks like one of six proper C&EI cabooses #1 to 6 built by American Car and Foundry in 1947.

Its trucks have C&EI name cast on it. But the date cast on it is not 1947 but 1950. C&EI indeed built fifteen cabooses #7 to 21 at its shop in 1950, but their body style is quite different from this caboose. Trucks might have been subsequently replaced. Anyway, I decided to introduce this car as C&EI caboose.

* 1959 photo of C&O #90110 at Fallen Flag site;
* 1974 photo of C&EI #1 at Railroad Picture Archives site;

: Alamogordo, NM. Sep. 9, 2015

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USAX GP10 #4623

: El Paso, TX. Sep. 10, 2015

This locomotive was found at the UP yard next to US/Mexico border in El Paso, TX. Note the chain fence in front of the locomotive so tightly knitted maybe not to allow climbing.

USAX #4623 was originally built as IC GP9 #9346 in 1958. It was rebuilt and renumbered to ICG GP10 #8135 in 1974, and finally became USAX #4623.

* 1989 photo of ICG #8135 by Garry Todd at Frickr;
* 2014 photo of USAX #4623 found at Railroad Picture Archives site;

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PFE RS #2458

: El Paso, TX Sep. 10, 2015

This ex-PFE Dharma-san is found at Doniphan Dr, El Paso, TX. It seems used as private storage.

PFE #2458 was one of 2001–5000 series R-40-25 class ice-bunker reefers built between 1949 and 1950. These cars were the last PFE reefers built with swinging doors and the first with diagonal-panel roofs.
Mentioning the lost feet, #2600 from the same class appears at modeling the SP site seems riding on AAR U-section "Bettendorf" trucks.

PFE 2001–5000 Series Ice-bunker Reefers
The ORER for July 1974 shows the group with 154 cars in place, described as follows:
AAR Designation RS, Refrig., Ventilated.
The inside length of these cars is 33 feet 2 inch, inside width 8 feet 3 inches, inside height 7 feet 3 inches, outside length 44 feet 9 inches, extreme height 15 feet and capacity 1988 cubic feet or 80,000 pounds.

* 1971 photo of PFE #2188 at Lee A. Gautreaux’s Railgoat web site;
* photo of PFE #2600 at Tony Thompson's modeling the SP site;


: El Paso, TX Sep. 10, 2015

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SAL XL #27249

: Encino, NM. Sep. 13, 2015

This ex-SAL Dharuma-san is found next to the BNSF mainline at Encino, NM. It seems used as a barn. As you see, it barely keeps its scheme including “THE ROUTE OF COURTEOUS SERVICE” slogan introduced in 1947.

SAL XM #27249 was one of 27000–27499 series steel boxcars built by the American Car and Foundry in 1955. The book Classic Freight Cars Vol. 8 has a clear photo of SAL #27274.
Mentioning the lost feet, #27093 from the same series appears at Fallen Flags site seems riding on ASF Ride Control trucks.

SAL 27000–27499 series steel boxcars:
The ORER for July 1974 shows the group with 100 cars in place, described as follows:
AAR Designation XM, Box, Stl.
The inside length of these cars is 50 feet 6 inches, inside width 9 feet 2 inches, inside height 10 feet 5 inches, outside length 54 feet 4 inches, extreme height 15 feet and capacity 4831 cubic feet or 110,000 pounds.

* 1974 photo of SAL #27093 found at Fallen Flags site;

: Encino, NM. Sep. 13, 2015

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T&P Pecos Depot

: Pecos, TX. Sep. 12, 2015

This former Texas & Pacific Railway depot is found at 100 W 1st St, Pecos, TX.

Pecos, established in the 19th century sometime around 1873, is a city in and the county seat of Reeves County, Texas with a population of 12682 according to the 1970 Census, 8780 according to the 2010 Census. It was named after Pecos River. It is said that the first rodeo was held here in 1883.

The one story depot made of red brick with hipped roof was built between 1880 and 1900 by Texas & Pacific Railway[1]. T&P merged with MP in 1976. It now houses Pecos Rodeo Hall of Fame Museum[2].

[1] Texas Historical Commission web page;
[2] Pecos Rodeo Hall of Fame homepage;


: postcards maybe printed in the 10's

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Some Southwestern Shorties – Pecos Valley Southern Railway, part 1

: engine shop

We happened to see several unique short lines during our vacation in Texas. Here is the one called The Loneliest Short Line in Texas by David Lustig at July 1998 Trains magazine:

Pecos Valley Southern Railway (reporting mark; PVS), headquartered in Pecos, TX was established in 1909. The 40 miles line from Pecos to Toyahvale was completed in 1910. Texas & Pacific Railway took control of the railway between 1927 and 1952. In 1952, a local gravel company, Trans-Pecos Materials succeeded the railway. Since 2012, the railway has been operated by Watco Transportation Services[1].

Photo above shows the engine shop and below shows the headquarters standing next to the shop. October 2000 Model Railroader features the PVS in two pages. According to MR, the mulberry tree beside the engine shop shown above was planted by an employee.

One story stucco structure at Ross and Third St, some blocks east of the headquarters is designated as PVS depot by Texas Historical Commission[2]. The last photo shows 263,000 lbs main out of Pecos.

All photos taken at Sep. 12, 2015.

[1] Watco Companies homepage;
[2] Texas Historical Commission web page;
* The American Railroads web page;

: route map
: headquarters
: former depot designated by THC
: PVS main to Saragosa

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Some Southwestern Shorties – Pecos Valley Southern Railway, part 2

: PVS SW900m #9

PVS once used two GE 70 tonners #s 7 and 8 for the power. Today it uses a SW900m.

PVS SW900m #9 was built in 1938 as Lehigh Valley Railroad NW1 #130. It was rebuilt to SW900 status in 1957. It later became Conrail #8657, WAMX #950, and finally became PVS #9. But it still keeps the number 8657 at the headlight-side number board.

When we visited the shop, the railway’s sole locomotive seemed under repainting, maybe to yellow and deep-blue Watco livery.

* 1975 photo of LV #120 found at Railroad Picture Archives site;
* 1977 photo of CR #8657 found at Railroad Picture Archives site;
* 2002 photo of PVS #9 found at Railroad Picture Archives site;

: PVS #100

PVS caboose #100, the railway’s sole caboose with friction bearing trucks, has no further information on the web.

I strongly suspect that it’s one of former Chicago Great Western Railway’s #625 to 634 series cabooses built in 1955 which appear in the book Cabins, Crummies& Hacks Vol. 3. But CGW cabooses had roller bearing trucks. I have no further idea.

* 1965 photo of CGW #628 found at Fallen Flags site;
* 1972 photo of CNW #10388 found at Railroad Picture Archives site;

All photos were taken at Sep. 12, 2015.

: PVS #100, PVS main in the foreground

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Some Southwestern Shorties – South Orient Railroad/Texas Pacifico Transportation Ltd, part 1

: Alpine, TX. Sep. 11, 2015

We happened to see several short lines during our vacation in Texas. Here is the one:

Texas Pacifico Transportation Ltd (reporting mark; TXPF), a railroad operating company headquartered in San Angelo, TX was established in 2001. But the line connecting Wichita, KA, and Alpine, TX was originally constructed by Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway established in 1900. ATSF acquired KCM&O in 1928. In 1992, South Orient Railroad (reporting mark SO) established that year, took over the portion of the line from San Angelo to Presidio, TX.
Coinciding with the Texas Department of Transportation’s purchase of the portion in 2001, TXPF. began its operation[1].

As words Orient and Pacifico included in companies’ names, the line connected Ferromex at Presidio/Ojinaga, reaching the Pacific Ocean via Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacifico. Unfortunately, however the Presidio/Ojinaga International Rail Bridge at the border burnt down in 2008 and the traffic ceased ever since[2].

Photo above shows the depot at Alpine, maybe built in 1900 when the line was constructed[3]. ATSF assigned full-time agent until 1978, according to Rails West[4]. It still retains hand-written S.O.R.R. marking on the sign.

The photo below shows the main south of Fort Stockton. Depot at Fort Stockton now houses the Chamber of Commerce and has two ATSF cabooses[5].

Former ATSF depot at Ballinger now houses the City Hall. Depot at San Angelo houses the Railway Museum. Former depots at Big Lake, Texon and Mc Camey also survive. Barnhart, Plata, and Presidio still have a water tank.

[1] TxDOT web page;
[2] TxDOT web page;
[3] Texas Historical Commission web page;
[4] Smith, B., (2017) Inspiration for a Limpia Canyon Northern Customer, Rails West;
[5] photos of ATSF cabooses at Fort Stockton;
* photo of ATSF Alpine depot maybe taken in the 70’s;

: route map
: Fort Stockton, TX. Sep. 11, 2015
: somewhere along Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacifico. Sep. 2002.

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Some Southwestern Shorties – South Orient Railroad/Texas Pacifico Transportation Ltd, part 2

: Fort Stockton, TX. Sep. 11, 2015

Photo above shows the frac-sand unloading facilities at Fort Stockton. The powers tied down at the yard are leased from CIT Rail Resources (reporting mark CITX/CEFX/CREX). They used to be in CNW patched scheme; seem repainted recently.

CREX GP38-2 #408 was built in 1967 as B&O GP38 #3817. It later became CSXT #2017, C&NW #4709, UP #408, and finally CEFX #408.

CREX GP38-2 #409 was built in 1969 as PC GP38 #7770. It later became CR #7770, C&NW #4710, UP #409, and finally CEFX #409.

* 1980 photo of B&O #3817 found at Fallen Flags site;
* 1972 photo of PC #7773 found at Fallen Flags site;
* 2010 - 2012 photos of CREX #408 and 409 at Rails West site;

: Fort Stockton, TX. Sep. 11, 2015

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Some Southwestern Shorties – Southwestern Railroad, part 1

: Dexter, NM. Sep. 12, 2015

We happened to see several short lines during our vacation in New Mexico. Here is the one:

Former ATSF Carlsbad Sub from Clovis, TX to Loving, TX is leased and operated by Southwestern Railroad (reporting mark SW) since 2004.

The portion of the line between Carlsbad and Roswell was constructed in 1892 by Pecos Valley Railroad originated in Pecos, TX. It finally reached Texico at NM/TX border in 1899. After the ATSF takeover in 1908, ATSF rerouted the terminal to nearby Clovis, NM. Unfortunately, however, the line between Pecos Junction and Pecos was abandoned in 1990 and the line south of Loving was abandoned in 2002[1].

The photo above shows SW main at Dexter with surviving ATSF style station sign. Dexter depot itself is now preserved at Roswell, NM[2].

ATSF ran a dairy passenger train #25 and 26, The Cavern between Clovis and Carlsbad, consisted of M160/190 and a round-end-observation-chair-car #3197, until 1967[3, 4]. #25 bound for Carlsbad used to make a flag stop at Dexter on 6:16PM and #26 bound for Clovis on 8:16AM.

The photo below shows the very M190 now preserved at Belen, NM. M160 is now preserved at Museum of the American Railroad in Frisco, Texas.

[1] Rails West web page;
[2] Dexter Historical Society facebook page;
[3] Santa Fe Passenger Trains web page;
[4] 1967 photo of train #25 led by M190 found at RailPictures.Net site;

: Belen, NM Sep. 9, 2015

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Some Southwestern Shorties – Southwestern Railroad, part 2

: SW headquarters

Southwestern Railroad (reporting mark; SW), a railroad headquartered in Carlsbad, NM was established in 1990. It operates two unconnected sections in New Mexico; Whitewater Division and Carlsbad Division. SW began operating the leased BNSF line between Clovis and Loving in 2004. But, according to July 13, 2016 Trains News Wire, BNSF will take back the line in 2017[1, 2].

SW headquarters occupies the former ATSF depot at Carlsbad, as shown above. The former depot at Artesia now houses the Chamber of Commerce. Depots at Portales, Kenna, Dexter, and Loving are also surviving. ATSF style station signs still stand at several places along the line. The future of these ATSF remnants would be uncertain after the scheduled takeover and upgrade by BNSF.

The last photo shows SW main at Artesia, NM. All the photos were taken on Sep. 12, 2015

revised, Jan. 18, 2017

[1] Jul. 13, 2016 Trains News Wire;
[2] Jan. 17, 2017 Trains News Wire;

: route map
: engine shop
: ATSF style station sign
: SW main south of Artesia, NM

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Some Southwestern Shorties – Southwestern Railroad, part 3

: SW #5103

SW SD50 #5103 was first built in 1985 as C&NW #7029. It later became UP #5089, WAMX #5103, LTEX #5103, and finally became SW #5103.

* 1993 photo of C&NW #7029 found at Railroad Picture Archives site;

: SW #6998

SW SD40-2 #6998 was first built in 1971 as CN SD40 #5235. It later rebuilt and renumbered to BNSF SD40-2 #7338, #6998, and finally became SW #6998. Note it still equips the extended roof.

* 1973 photo of CN #5233 found at Railroad Picture Archives site;

: SW #3124

A little damaged SW SD40M-2 #3124 without front handrail was found tied down at Chisum siding where two SW trains collided on April 28, 2015[1, 2]. The SD40M-2 was first built in 1968 as SP SD45 #8954. It was later rebuilt and renumbered to SD45R #7516, CEFX SD40M-2 #3124, and finally became SW #3124.

[1] Trains News Wire web page;
[2] Trains News Wire web page;
* 1978 photo of SP #8954 found at Fallen Flags site;

SW also listed two former D&RGW EMD SD50 locomotives. Unfortunately, however, SW #9851, former D&RGW #5507 was lost in the Chisum collision.
When we visited the site, the particular locomotive was still tied down at the siding, severely damaged, and the cross offered: I couldn’t make myself feel like taking a photo.

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