Nostalgia & History > That GE pug nose!

If given that "either/or" choice, I would definitely go with the graceful curvature of the classic GE nose over the boxy EMD nose. Both builder's noses are from the same general era and I cut my railfan teeth on both. The first 17 or so years of my RR career were spent riding in both cabs, and from that working standpoint both of the cabs had plusses & minuses. But from that railfan/photogenic view give me General Electric any time!

1. AT&SF 7508 on train 314 CK-1 west of Ingalls, KS on August 31, 1978.

2. AT&SF 8777 on a WB manifest on the main at Aikman, KS taken from the caboose on my work train on December 3, 1979.

3. AT&SF 6333 is between assignments idling at the Newton, KS roundhouse on June 1, 1981.

Thanks for looking!
Lance Garrels
santafe199



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/03/22 20:15 by santafe199.

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Photo #2, also shows the KCM&O grade on the east side of the poleline. wag216

Well, a U33C, a U36C, and a U23B. Missing only the passenger
boats and a U25B. But the latter ran mostly east of KC.

I'll still take an EMD.

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA

ntharalson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well, a U33C, a U36C, and a U23B. Missing only
> the passenger
> boats and a U25B. But the latter ran mostly east
> of KC.
>
> I'll still take an EMD.
>
> Nick Tharalson,
> Marion, IA


I think the 8500's were the U33C's, no?

skinem Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ntharalson Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Well, a U33C, a U36C, and a U23B. Missing only
> > the passenger
> > boats and a U25B. But the latter ran mostly
> east
> > of KC.
> >
> > I'll still take an EMD.
> >
> > Nick Tharalson,
> > Marion, IA
>
>
> I think the 8500's were the U33C's, no?

Yes, the 8500's were the U33C's. The 7500 class were the U23C's. The U23C's spent much their time in NM and CO. But in 1978 Santa Fe, like most of the other railroads back then, was power short so running them east from La Junta toward Kansas City wasn't that unusual. BTW Ingalls is between Garden City and Dodge City.

Nice photos Lance!


Allen



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/27/12 09:29 by bradleymckay.

bradleymckay Wrote:

> .................. Since the U23C's spent much
> their time in NM and CO it's a bit unusual to see
> them anywhere else, such as in the first picture.

I remember seeing 7500's through Emporia on a semi-regular basis, but nearly always on the KC-Colorado trains. I think their base maintenance & inspection shop was Argentine, which explains appearances in Emporia.

Lance



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/27/12 09:25 by santafe199.

santafe199 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> I remember seeing 7500's through Emporia on a
> semi-regular basis, but nearly always on the
> KC-Colorado trains. I think their base maintenance
> & inspection shop was Argentine, which explains
> appearances in Emporia.
>
> Lance

Now that the coffee has kicked in you're right about the U23C's going to Argentine. Still, I haven't seen very many photos of them out on the main lines east of NM/CO. Did see one photo from 1980 showing a U23C leading a train south from Oklahoma City.


Allen

Working out of Emporia, I went to Newton many times on the 304 with a 4000 class SD-39 & a 7500.

Love those pugs! The U23C's were also used on manifests 408/804 as far west as Albuquerque, NM in the early 80's, and photos suggest they also ran down the Horny Toad to the copper branches around Hurley. I kind of wonder if any of the 7500's ever sneaked as far west as California.

Duh! I am correctly corrected!!! And I knew better too!!!

Thanks for the reminders. Still take an EMD.

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA