Georgia Central GP9 1713 and two other Heart of Georgia Railroad units throttle up after observing the 10 mph speed restriction on the Lake Blackshear trestle.
GC 1713 has had an interesting life, and has worn many paint schemes. It was built new as a GP7 for the Detroit and Toledo Shoreline in April of 1952 as their 46. During the nation's bicentennial, the 46 was selected to be the D&TSL's special unit, and it received a patriotic paint scheme and a new number, the 76. Eventually, the D&TSL was merged into the Grand Trunk Western, and this unit eventually wore the red and blue of the Grand Trunk and received a new number, 6046. Upgraded to a GP9 somewhere along the line, but retaining the outward appearance of a GP7, this unit toiled on GTW until it was sold to Georgia Central Railway in the 90s. There, it saw two other paint jobs, until a few years ago, it was finally repainted into G&W corporate paint and received its current number, the 1713.
