Wayback ALCO Machine: Midwest ALCO Wonderland Tucked away in the MNNR roundhouse, 3 ALCO/MLW products are either at rest or stored. MLW M420 #35, ALCO RS-27 #318, and ALCO C424 #314 are vis... (more)

The Minnesota Commercial rosters an eclectic mix of Alco and older GE locomotives at it's engine terminal and roundhouse in Saint Paul.

Two former GB&W Alcos power a transfer. These made for a welcome sight running around the Twin Cities.

With 14 cars of train, the hogger on Job 52 puts on quite the smoke show as the train accelerates for Park Junction. Once there, the job will have to let one go by westbound on the St Paul Sub bef... (more)

Currently, Job 52 is the only train you'll see Alco's in use on the Minnesota Commercial. MNNR 318 puts on a good show though as they switch cars on the Hennepin Lead.

The Hennepin Job has just received the signal to proceed across the BNSF diamonds at Park Junction. There is still quite a bit of snow on the ground from a storm the previous weekend.

318 switches the industries along the line towards New Brighton.

318 smokes it up like a good Alco should while switching the industries between Como and Hennepin Avenue.

It still amazes me that in 2010 you can find Alcos hard at work, especially a model as rare as the RS-27. This is former C&NW 901, built in 1962, working the yard at Midway on the Minnesota Comme... (more)

Job 52 goes about spotting cars on the Hennepin Line. It won't be long before the RS27's are parked for the winter and the RS18 gets pulled out.

The 318 is doing its best to block the sun from me on a perfect cloudless morning. Job 52 is seen here working industry just north of Park Junction.

The 318 is shoving hard as they push 16 cars up the hill. The conductor is a huge Alco fan and added the flags to spiff up an already classy unit.

318 smokes it up as it accelerates from a standstill. Alco built 27 RS-27s, and only two are left - both on the Minnesota Commercial.

Alco only built 27 RS-27s, and only two still operate, including this one: ex-GB&W No. 318, now in service on the Minnesota Commercial. Here it is on a warm spring morning in May 2009, switching ... (more)

Unit 318 was built by Alco in 1962 as the demonstrator model for the RS-27. After stints on the C&NW, CP, and GB&W, it's now in Minnesota working for the Minnesota Commercial.