Great shot of a Classic! Thanks for sharing!
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The ex-Reading locomotives (and other fodder acquired for the Paducah GP8/GP10 program) were usually kept close to Paducah (KY) Shops (i.e., Paducah-Louisville, Paducah-Memphis, etc.) before being rebuilt. I was quite surprised to read the location of this photograph! I wonder how this lone unit managed to get so far south on the ICG system.
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Reading GP7s were in two number blocks, the 600s were freight units, and the 660 group, like this one, were steam generator-equipped. The Reading used different number blocks to denote freight and passenger Alco-GE and Baldwin road switchers as well. Great capture David, I didn't know IC actually used any second-hand units prior to their Paducah rebuild.
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JC, if Illinois Central Gulf could squeeze a few miles out of any of these old tired gals while awaiting floor space at Paducah (for subsequent inclusion into either the GP8 or GP10 Capital Rebuild Program), that is exactly what they were going to do as they were (like most railroads of the era), short on power.
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| Posted by on December 5, 2011 | |
There were at least four ex-Reading GP7s that did time on the Montgomery line - 11, 61, 64 and 66. A couple of them stayed around Montgoemry for several momths after replacing RS-1s in yard service, transfer and mill run duties. Only 64 was in G/Y.
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