Nostalgia & History > Maroon Monday: Another hodge-podge consist

On paper there is a total of 10,500 very tired horsepower in 2 somewhat incomplete paint schemes at the point of this westbound(?) train rolling through Des Moines. But one has to wonder if all 4 units are actually running. At this stage in the sad Rock Island saga it could very well be a coin flip. Here is the line up for this all-GE consist: U-25-Bs 200, 243, 220 & U-30-C 4586. More Rock Island hodge-podge…

1. CRI&P 200 leads a 4 unit consist in Des Moines, IA on December 4, 1975.
(Photo by James W. Watson)

Thanks for looking!
Lance Garrels (santafe199)
Jim Watson (UP6900)



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 10/22/22 04:08 by santafe199.

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Interesting shot, Lance, thanks for posting. Train looks to be departing Short Line Yard, which is
in an interesting position. The yard was/is located along the Rock's east-west main and the "Spine
Line," never called that in Rock Island days, crosses at Short Line tower to the left of the photo.
Trains off the Short Line used connections to pull into the yard. Passenger trains on the Short Line,
"Twin Star Rocket"/"Plainsman" BACKED from Short Line Tower to the depot some three miles west. Since
the freights could run around their trains, they pulled in. Unfortunately, we can't tell from the photo
where this train is headed.

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA

And it's not just if all the unit's are running, as it's also about if each unit is putting out it's actual power . A poorly maintained unit or one overdue major Maintenance might be lucky if it's , say has filthy Air Filters be doing 2,500 HP, instead of 3,000 rated.

Or a unit is low on water or Lube oil and keeps dropping off line

Tom Hirsch
Cherry Valley, CA

Nice Lance. A whole string of "Rock Crushers" GE's.

Bob Krieger
Cheyenne, WY

Very nice, Lance. Thanks for posting.

Tom

ntharalson Wrote:
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> Unfortunately, we can't tell from the
> photo
> where this train is headed.
>

Given the two Rio Grande boxcars on the point, in all likelihood this is Denver train #47 which at the time typically left Short Line in the early afternoon.

Best regards,

Rob L.

Man, what unbelievably rough looking shape those engines are in but it would have been Amazing to have witnessed!

Don't forget. a bunch of those CRI&P U25B's had a second life on the Maine Central and Guilford in the 80's. Here is the 231 at East Binghamton, NY in late summer 1985. Unit was wrecked in Fitchburg, MA in 87 and scrapped.
Steve B.

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stevelv Wrote:
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> Don't forget. a bunch of those CRI&P U25B's had a
> second life on the Maine Central and Guilford in
> the 80's. Here is the 231 at East Binghamton, NY
> in late summer 1985. Unit was wrecked in
> Fitchburg, MA in 87 and scrapped.
> Steve B.

You are right. However, none in the photo would survive beyond the end of the Rock Island.

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