On April 11, 1998, the IMRL put on a new local job that ran from Mason City to Marquette and back the next day. I was award the conductor on the 954 local when it started in 98. Over the years the job was off and on, but one thing that was cool is this job started getting SD9's regularly for power. One trip I left Mason City with 5 SD9's!!!! Oh to have those days back!!!! This job would do all the local work and drag any excess freight over the 4th Sub with a 1 way trip 6 days a week. Back in 2000 the job was almost back to Mason City and they pass thru Portland with alittle bit of everything for consist. Those ex-SP SD9's were neat, but man what a POS (24L Brakes!)
Coal and steel don't go bad. This album features long, slow, heavy freight trains; drag freights, slop freights, dead freights, etc. Trains with lots of power, and lots of different cargo slogging along behind.
