Winter 1988 in eastern Oklahoma, and this northbound Katy freight is found crossing the causeway & bridge over the North Canadian River part of Lake Eufala. The highway seen is US69, which parallels the Katy for much of its route thru the Sooner State. Notice the raggedy-looking GP38 in the middle of the lashup- it's an ex-ICG unit, hastily restenciled & put into service. On power-short Katy, paint doesn't pull tonnage, and as long as the locomotive can load up & move, it's put to work. In a way, this diesel is prophetic of the numerous rent-a-wrecks that run the rails today.
Bob, We often take this route on our way to Chicago (vs. boring old I-35/I-44) and I love that area...always some good train action and of course beautiful scenery--although since I'm usually in the midst of a 15-hour drive I usually don't stop for pics.
I don't know about anyone else, but their green paint scheme was one of the classiest during that era. :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: Boxcab E50
With black and blue ex-Cons, yellow GP39-2s from Kennecott Copper (their cabs lowered to regular height, but the diesel still having high ground clearance), and the grungy orange & white ICGs (with primer spots for the MKT lettering), the Katy could put together some "colorful" power consists. Toss in the "blind-cab" F-unit (designated F38-2) and things could get interesting. Almost made it a treat to see an all-green consist.
Your mention of the F-units reminds me of the F-unit slugs that the KCS used to run in here in the 70's with 3 or 4 other units (all in weathered white of course) on their 120+ car interchange trains :shade: I used to spend the night in the yard tower at east Dallas yard occasionally when these trains rolled through to CJ yard next to the old tower 19. Oh to be able to go back to that period when everything wasn't yellow, blue, black or pumpkin.
