I miss switchers; I guess their time has come and gone. I see locals with a literal handful of cars lead by an enormous 4400 HP 6-Axle road unit and wonder where the economics is in that ..... yet I know that a lessened roster is de rigueur with PSR.
The economic factor is likely a function of the need for a locomotive that meets the current emissions standards. If a loco is needed for switching or local service and an emissions-compliant road unit is all that is available, then that's what gets the assignment. Genset locos were supposed to be the answer, but they have proven to be unreliable. https://www.trains.com/trn/railroads/locomotives/gensets-a-disappearing-act/ Particularly amusing is the fate of a genset loco on the DGNO: "On the DGNO, one locomotive — RailPower RP20BD No. 143 — was so thoroughly unreliable and disliked by crews that when it eventually caught fire, a quick-thinking employee directed local firefighters to point their hoses into the locomotive’s generator compartment, rendering the engine a total loss in seconds."
Oh, I didn't think about that. Maybe it's time to rethink fireless cookers. Here's one, PP&L 4093 found 07/1980 at Jim Thorpe, PA. She was moved to Tamaqua, PA in 2005 and cosmetically restored. The EPA can take on the rest, "charging station" and all.
Not much water out in west Texas so water tenders were needed. The Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway Company of Texas (Orient of Texas) was one of three connecting railroads promoted by Arthur E. Stilwell. It was planned to run from Kansas City, Missouri, to Topolobampo, Mexico, a distance of 1,600 miles. Topolobampo was, according to Stilwell, 400 miles closer to Kansas City than any other Pacific port. It eventually became part of the Santa Fe system.
Here's what happened if you parked in the wrong part of Atlanta back in the late 80's....... come to think of it, still about the same now
Rail in Kerry County, Ireland. In 1893 a line was opened along the Atlantic coast linking the slate mines on Velentia Island to Killorglin and beyond. It lasted until 1960.
D&RGW #5326 made a grande pass through Chattanooga TN back in the late 80s. It was a time when just about anything was likely to make an appearance.
Neat pictures! I'd forgotten about D&RGW power making its way east. Here's the 5354 resting at NS's Norris Yard, Irondale AL, 11/14/1987.
