Almost daily, Seaboard operated No. 88 in 2 (or more) sections. No. 88 was a workhorse on the Virginia Division handling interchange traffic with connecting railroads and setoffs and pickups at various cities enroute Hamlet, NC to Richmond, Va.
The ability to operate extra sections frequently relied on the creative skills of the Diesel Shop Foreman at Hamlet Yard to round up adequate power to run the train.
Today was no exception. Operating as Extra 1116 North, First 88 works into Raleigh, NC with a single SDP35 and four F3's. This was truly a rare find on the Seaboard in 1966. Still earning their keep since 1948, these four F3's were only weeks away from retirement and trade-in on GE U-30B's which would begin arriving the very next month.
"Hats off" to the Diesel Shop Foreman at Hamlet Yard.
