| Norfolk Southern No. 193 (and later 393) was the run-through train from Birmingham to Houston via the SP. Here it was stopped on the NS at the Marconi Drive underpass, waiting for a clear route to the Huey P. Long Bridge about five miles away. When it got to the east end of the bridge, an SP crew would get on and take it cross the Mississippi River to their Avondale Yard. This train had SP SD45T-2 9309, along with former Conrail SDP45's 6688 and 6689 which the SP was leasing from VMV Enterprises. These SDP45's were originally Erie Lackawanna units, and when their lease expired Conrail retired them. Along the way, the 6688 had an accident and its long hood was replaced with one made for an SD45-2. |