The famous "Milpitas Fs" along with a friend challenge Altamont again with their auto racks headed for the Ford plant. As seen from the drivers seat of the "mustard jar", my 1976 Datsun.

EB coal with something colorful for a change. I'd like to see that scheme with a nice sill stripe added and the NS logos emblazoned on all sides.

John Santa Fe only owned 20 of the "basic" SD-40s. They came early in the production run and were always aesthetic favorites of mine due to their balance. This one is a little worse for wear but... (more)

I didn't see Sonora-Baja California on the menu but that's what it is. This unit was the pulling a freight train by itself on this day.

Yes it runs and runs well. They never were a slave to fashion. I've heard stories of railfans who volunteered to paint them and were rebuffed. Image problem? Actually the folks there are very ... (more)

Ex-RDG unit switching a paper warehouse. From the looks of those rerailing frogs they were ready for almost anything.

They always looked like they needed a short hood to me but SP loved them.

Katy was desperate for motive power when they got some KCC high cab units. When chopping the cab and hood they got it almost right but somewhat lower than normal. Other units were repainted but ... (more)

My day for riding with the Army civilian switching crew in their leased SW-1500 was cut short after an hour or so by a broken radiator hose.

Just a nice old-style meter gauge tanker

I thought these didn't carry or MU fuel but this one has a filler and somebody has put or tried to put diesel into it recently. Abandoned experiment?

Sorry, Nevada but by this time everything along I-80 looked alike. I love the non-standard hood and very non-standard headlight. I'd like to have heard that buying decision being make. Anyone wh... (more)

Things seemed more interesting when the 4-axle units went up the "hollers" on mine runs. These units are entering the north end of the former C&O yard. Photo by Jim Satterwhite, from ... (more)

My MP pal, who undertook to offer a welcome to a young Air Force guy by showing me around the oddball (on MP) GE behind him. In the few weeks I was there I got a couple of cab rides around the te... (more)

Here's another one. Not only are they beautiful they're clean and the "lobotomy" SP did on them doesn't show.