One of the more interesting passenger trains in the United States recently was the Hoosier State, operated four times per week between Indianapolis, Indiana, and Chicago, Illinois, with this colorful train set. Trains 850 and 851 operate on the days that Amtrak 50 and 51, the New York to Chicago Cardinal, does not operate between these two Midwestern cities. On this Saturday, the train set, with San Luis & Rio Grande GP40FH-2 4137 on the point, is serviced in Indianapolis while the train lays over, and is serviced, at Brookfield Sand & Gravel. SLRG 4137, wearing the colors of SLRG parent company Iowa Pacific Holdings (based upon the classic Illinois Central colors), was built by EMD in August 1967 as New York Central GP40 3078 (and later PC, then CR, 3078). It was eventually rebuilt by Morrison-Knudsen with a wide-hood off an old BN F45 into NJ Transit GP40FH-2 4137. Unfortunately, the Hoosier State ceased operating with this attractive Iowa Pacific equipment on January 30, 2017. (Indianapolis IN – July 9, 2016)
