Remarks: TP&W EMD GP35 902 leads the road's two GP7's on a freight passing through downtown El Paso, Illinois. El Paso was the TP&W's crossing of the ICG (ex-IC) Clinton-Freeport route. The ICG diamond is visible under the covered hopper car.
Remarks: The Milwaukee Road went shopping for a locomotive with enough muscle to pull heavy trains, but also be able to tip-toe over light rail and bridges. The 2300 H.P. EMD SDL39 was the answer. Milwaukee had ten (581-590) built in 1969 and 1972. The stubby little locomotive used custom-style Flexicoil C-C trucks.
Remarks: A visit to the "Land of Sky Blue Water" in 1974 turned up this gem. Produced between 1946 and 1950, Alco built 70 domestic RSC-2 models. Equipped with A-1-A trucks, the 1500 H.P. locomotive was basically a lightweight RS-2, designed for light rail and bridge loadings. Number 594 was one of 18 RSC-2's on the Milwaukee Road roster.
Remarks: Milwaukee Road Fairbanks-Morse H12-44 705 was caught working the south yard lead at Savanna, Illinois, in late 1978. The FM's were good switch engines. They accelerated fast, which made them ideal for kicking (cutting off in motion) freight cars when necessary.
Remarks: On a hot and humid June 1977 afternoon, the Milwaukee Road's Savanna, Illinois, diesel terminal was bustling with activity. Just arriving off of an inbound freight was a typical 1970's lashup, MILW 68A, 315, and 64B.
