Nostalgia & History > Switcher Saturday

Some Chicago switchers plus July 1992. (B.M.Ernatt video)

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Really interesting video with a great variety of small power, thanks for posting.

I'm curious if anyone can help with the history of the Magma Geep in the second
and third clips.  The rear appears to be ex-SP, but the head end appears to have
a factory low nose applied.  Is this one of the rare SP low-nose GP9's, or is it a
factory rebuild of another Geep?  TIA for any answers.

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA

ntharalson Wrote:

> I'm curious if anyone can help with the history of
> the Magma Geep in the second
> and third clips.  The rear appears to be ex-SP,
> but the head end appears to have
> a factory low nose applied.  Is this one of the
> rare SP low-nose GP9's, or is it a
> factory rebuild of another Geep? 

According to Strapac, this is ex-SP 3882, ex-3721, nee-5885, built August 1959 as a factory low-nosed GP9.  It went to the Magma Copper Co. in 1992 and was subsequently renumbered 4, evidently spending most of its time on the San Manuel Arizona.

Locations ??

1. IC Hawthorne ?  Looks like "the dump" in the background.

2 and 3.  Chatham Ave. at the west end of Barr Yd ???

4. West end of Barr Yd.

5. West end of IHB Blue Island Hump Yd.

6. IHB Stewart Ave????  Looks like the tower behind the locomotives at 3:05 in the film.

7. B&O Riverdale.  The 7629 is heading east.

Concur ?????

Evan_Werkema Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ntharalson Wrote:
>
> > I'm curious if anyone can help with the history
> of
> > the Magma Geep in the second
> > and third clips.  The rear appears to be
> ex-SP,
> > but the head end appears to have
> > a factory low nose applied.  Is this one of
> the
> > rare SP low-nose GP9's, or is it a
> > factory rebuild of another Geep? 
>
> According to Strapac, this is ex-SP 3882, ex-3721,
> nee-5885, built August 1959 as a factory low-nosed
> GP9.  It went to the Magma Copper Co. in 1992 and
> was subsequently renumbered 4, evidently spending
> most of its time on the San Manuel Arizona.

Thanks Evan, confirmed my suspicions.

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA