You never knew what you might encounter at Rio Grande’s North Yard in the mid- to late-60s. The Grande’s own roster was unexciting -- lines of Geeps, F-units and SW1200 switchers. The wild card was Rock Island, perpetually short of motive power and thus always showing up with something borrowed or leased. This May 30, 1966, afternoon, tucked in behind F7A 125 is Erie-Lackawanna F3B 6602, one of a number of foreign-road units the Rock hopes will help it get through the coming High Plains wheat harvest. Companions, include, at right, Rio Grande GP7 5105 heading a string that includes an SD7 and an F7A, and, just visible at right, a Grande SW1200.
Not
just heritage schemes, not just commemorative schemes - this album is devoted to some of the world's most interesting paint schemes, past or present.
