KCS SD40 601, part of a power consist of a northbound freight, shot at the fuel racks in Heavener,OK, 12-18-1988 SD40-2 669, same time, place & location. By the looks of the smoke coming out of the turbo exhaust, the turbo is acting up. Most likely, it'll be set out at Pittsburg, KD for repairs SD50 707,one of 9 of this model bought new ( the others presently on the roster are lessors)
SD50 712 and another SD on the wye behind the engine house at Heavener. This two-diesel set was used to help get southbound freights over the grade at Rich Mountain, AR.
GP40 790 and its mate, both ex-ICG, await their turn on a Dodger (KCS slang for road locals that had to "dodge" the mainline freights) or the run to Ft.Smith. Heavener, OK. KCS was an all-EMD railroad for years, after the last of the minority-builder units were retired, until the AC4400Ws came on the property. Even so, they've still stayed primarily with EMD, as is witnessed by the arrival of their new SD70MACes (I'm not including any units for TFM in this mix). and refurbed SD50s.
Nice shots. Pure white lashups are a thing of the past. I haven't seen any ghosts in Zacha Jct for a long time.
I saw a KCS white SD40-2 in Spokane on the BNSF today, how many of these white units are still around? Kevin
Not sure- maybe a mere handful. Just about as common as unpatched BN diesels (and I've only seen two, both SD40-2s with no BNSF lettering). And that doesn't include the Grimestain-painted SD70MACs....
A couple of week's ago there for 3 or 4 in Deramus yard here in Shreveport. Hard to tell though when there's 40+ locomotives blocking up the front of the shops. Deramus yard is also the home of the KCS Christmas train and business train. Both are able to be seen from the main road in front of the Deramus HQ building. I have a couple friends who work there and from what I hear they are ripping up the old yard and building a hump yard to help reduce crossing tie up's when coal and grain trains come through. I think it's true because so far I see a pile of ties that has to be at least 4 stories high out on their junk yard and steadly growing. As for the white ghost, you get to see them from time to time coming and going from the yard. However being that KCS was mostly EMD power, KCS was the first railroad to ever use Cummins diesel power as their prime movers.
If anyone has a chance to do so, and takes some pictures, it would be fun to see the progress of this new yard work. Boxcab E50
