Nostalgia & History > When the Nose Was More Correct . . .

Back in a 1995ish trip they made through Kansas, at least we have the door and grab irons on the front but have the other headlight removed by then. This looks so much better than the smooth nose of today. Could even do a where is it if anyone cares to try, should be easy for the Kansas guys.
Thanks for looking
Brian Stevens

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During the same trip, my daughter and I beside my favorite coach

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The 2 'weedsy' looking shots could be coming down off of the Minneapolis Branch at Solomon, which is between Abilene, KS & Salina, KS. The train would appear to be coming straight into Solomon (not using the W leg of the wye) which would put it on an EB course, next stop: Abilene, which is most decidedly the location of 3rd shot (& I'm assuming the portrait with the youngin'). The old 'Sunflower Hotel' is just visible to the right of the E's nose and there's NO mistaking that zig-zaggely siding track next to the main. The train would be parked in front of the former Abilene passenger depot just off the N-S main drag: 'Buckeye Ave' (also KS hwy 15). Abilene is very much a 2nd hometown for me (after Manhattan, KS) and I grew up playing around these tracks, watching trains in the 60s...

Thanks for the passenger memory

Lance Garrels
santafe199



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/29/11 17:19 by santafe199.

PS: My good friend (& fellow railroader/railfan) of 30 years, Bob Helling can surely provide more details. What say you, PRose???

Wow, that didn't take long to be correct. At that time the UP had to get clearance from Kyle to use the wye--westbound on the main then back around the west leg, then use the straight east leg to head east into Solomon and on to Abilene.
Brian Stevens

I might be wrong (it's happened before), but I do not believe the 949 or the 951 ever had a second headlight. I have photos of it in 1977 on the point with only one headlight. See attached photo of 951 on #6 at Hinsdale IL on 01-06-77.

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SP6190 Wrote:
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> I might be wrong (it's happened before), but I do
> not believe the 949 or the 951 ever had a second
> headlight. I have photos of it in 1977 on the
> point with only one headlight. See attached photo
> of 951 on #6 at Hinsdale IL on 01-06-77.


949 is leading in the photo's above.

Great shots, Brian.

Santafe199 is correct on all counts.

Photos 1 & 2 should be reversed. Photo
2 is the train backing around the west leg
of the wye at Solomon. Photo 1 is at the
switch to head around the east leg and back
east.
Photo 3 is at the depot at Abilene. In the
background is the parking lot east of the
depot.

Thanks again for the great photos.

Bob Helling
PRose

SP6190 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I might be wrong (it's happened before), but I do
> not believe the 949 or the 951 ever had a second
> headlight. I have photos of it in 1977 on the
> point with only one headlight. See attached photo
> of 951 on #6 at Hinsdale IL on 01-06-77.


I'll stand corrected, I was under the impression all the 900's had both lights, maybe just the earlier years units---here's one from 1963 #17 Portland Rose Salina Ks
Thanks
Brian Stevens

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SCKP187 Wrote:
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> SP6190 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I might be wrong (it's happened before), but I
> do
> > not believe the 949 or the 951 ever had a
> second
> > headlight. I have photos of it in 1977 on the
> > point with only one headlight. See attached
> photo
> > of 951 on #6 at Hinsdale IL on 01-06-77.
>
>
> I'll stand corrected, I was under the impression
> all the 900's had both lights, maybe just the
> earlier years units---here's one from 1963 #17
> Portland Rose Salina Ks
> Thanks
> Brian Stevens


I have photo's of 961 and another E in Cheyenne in 1969, only the upper headlight. No nose door light. I could be wrong, but I think all of the E8A's were equipped with two and the E9A's were not. Just my observation so far!

KC

GRNDMND Wrote:
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> I could be wrong, but I think all of the
> E8A's were equipped with two and the E9A's were
> not. Just my observation so far!
>
> KC

Correct. UP E9s were delivered without the oscillating headlights, even though their earlier Es were so equipped.

NZ