On a dry February 24, 1986, a southbound Denver and Rio Grande Western coal train crests the grade at Palmer Lake, Colorado powered by a trio of EMD SD50s led by No. 5501, and soon, the train will roll to a stop and cut out the two helpers on the rear.
The EMD SD (special duty) series are a strong and reliable kind of locomotive which still serve America's rails today. They have proved themselves reliable by clocking in several million miles of freight service over several decades.