1990s Vol. 2

This former Missouri Pacific unit shows off the North Little&Rock lettering font and a non-standard spray painted replacement numberboard.

The newest unit in this lashup looks like the oldest.

Other than losing a steam generator, this former passenger service NP GP9 still carries a winterization hatch, roof mounted air tanks, and a large short hood bell.

The SD50 prototype, the SD40X hangs out in KCS's Dallas Yard for the Independence Day holiday.

Delivered to Erie Lackawanna as SDP45 3664 in August 1970 this locomotive became Conrail 6695 until retirement becoming VMVX 6695, then MKCX 9515 remaining in Conrail Premier Blue. Although several members of the EL SDP45 fleet were rebuilt into SD40M-2s for Southern Pacific, I do not believe 9515 was one of the lucky ones.

Although wearing fresh and complete Espee speed lettering paint job, this diesel still sports plenty of dents on the hood. After the UP merger this diesel was lobotomized and became UPY CCRCL 113.

Was there ever an ugly GP30 paint scheme?

A great looking GP30 idles in SP's Dallas Miller Yard.

Delivered new to KCS, the leader in white and the follower in grey.

A worn out MP15AC flat switches in Miller Yard.

By this date this B36-7 was on borrowed time, much line Southern Pacific itself. After her career with Espee ended, this unit went to work for NREX lease fleet, then headed to South America. After extensive rebuilding, 7763 emerged as EFVM 748 BB36-7 and works hauling freight on a narrow gauge railroad in Brasil. Better than the scrap yard.

Awaiting the next call to duty at the fuel pad. Three years after this photo 5320 was sold to HLCX for lease service.

Painted for SP but sublettered for SSW. This unit also has "Earl Vick" above the cabside number.

An intermodal freight departs Miller Yard for Houston with a mixed bag of power leading.

Rolling into Miller Yard in Dallas with an intermodal freight is a recently delivered SD40M-2. These units didn't stay this clean for long...

Rolling through Miller Yard in search of the next string of cars to switch.

Built new for Norfolk & Western, to NS, EMD, then WC and ending up on MRL never having a road number change.

Parked in front of the BN Irving office is this former Frisco Geep. Now wearing the BN whiteface scheme but still showing of a nose scar from the Frisco ordered nose light.

Delivered to Cotton Belt as SSW SD45 9052 in January 1969, retired and sold to Morrison Knudsen then rebuilt entering the lease pool as MKCX 9005 SD40M-2 in February 1990. This unit would later join the Helm lease pool as HLCX 9005 where this big EMD is still employed today. In this photo MKCX 9005 is back on home rails leading an SP freight into Miller Yard in South Dallas less than two years before the UP-SP merger.

The yard hostler rolls this Geep to the fuel rack for a fill up and quick servicing before leaving out on the next train.

Primer grey, looking pretty tired but still hard at work. This unit was built new for C&S/BN in 1967 and can currently be seen as HLCX 6318.

Built for MKT, now part of the EMD lease fleet and working on UP (former MP, nee TP) rails. Note the MKT applied strobe light.

The low winter sun throws long shadows on this old Cotton Belt switcher.

Gondola turned steel coil carrier. Parked in KCS Dallas Yard.

Fresh power for SP idles in Miller Yard Dallas. Even with new locomotives, SP was unable to pull itself out of a deatk spiral. This unit can now be seen as UP 9650.

Formerly owned by Santa Fe, returned to GE upon lease expiration and now in GE Lease Pool service.

The day after Christmas an EMDX GP38-2 is parked in the Irving mini-yard. Note the Anheuser Busch Eagle on the rear of 747, someone likes beer!

Built for Oregon & Northwestern, now owned by Lamoille Valley. Parked in UP Cenennial Yard.

Parked in Centennial Yard ready for the next UP freight east.

Looking like a freshly delivered diesel from EMD.

Recently delivered to SP and showing signs of hard usage with a layer nf dirt coating the body.

Recently rebuilt for SP already wearing a coat of dirt. This unit was renumbered to 4860 to make room for AC44s.

Idling the final few hours of it's career and of the SP in Dallas Miller Yard. This was the first and only GP20 I ever caught in service.

On leese to UP and parked at the diesel ready tracks in Centennial Yard.

A UP ballast train rolls past Tower 55 with former Mopac and MKT/IC units charging over the diamonds.

Parked at the KCS Dallas Yard diesel tracks, a long way from former MidSouth rails.

Looks like it's good for another 50 years of service, just needs some fresh paint and a Mars light.

Leased power was (and still is) somewhat rare to see on KCS. Here a Helm GP38-2 waits for it's next assignment in Dallas Yard.

Although still wearing the full Santa Fe scheme, this unit was returned to GE in 1989 and is on lease to SP. Later this unit worked for BC Rail and went on to Brasil.

Idling in KCS Dallas Yard, waiting to take an intermodal train back east for Atlanta.

After bringing the Atlanta - Dallao intermodal run to the KCS Dallas yard this diesel is ready to return east.

Owned by A&K Railroad Materials and modified for turnout loading. Westbound on KCS.

A pair of 38-2s struggle to pull a cut of cars around and back over the hump. A visitor today would find a yard full of pemote control SD38-2/SD40-2s working the hump.

A big SD45-2 rests in KCS's Dallas Yard with a big SF30C.

Two KCS SDs bracket a Helm geep as the brakeman climbs aboard the leader before departing Dallas.

For a time in the 1990s KCS based a switcher and slug set in their Dallas Yard. Here the pair are resting up before the next call to duty.

Still wearing KCS white but now wearing a 4 to make room for recently delivered SD40-3s in the 600 series. Note the now off centered cabside road number and bright "4" compared to the 607.

Cruising by Tower 55 in a clean GP35.

Built in October 1949 by EMD as CNW TR2B 2000B, this diesel was rebuilt as engineless slug BU4. After retirement by CNW this slug was sold to KCS and paired with an SW1500. Reportedly this slug is parked in a dead line at the KCS yard in Shreveport very unlikely to return to service.

This unit was built new for Penn Central and now is a member of the BN fleet.