Nostalgia & History > Toss Back Tuesday: Big boats in Manhattan

In the spring of 1973 I was a senior in high school. My future friend Tom Lee was recording everyday scenes on the Union Pacific in our common hometown of Manhattan, KS. I wouldn’t become a full-fledged railfan photographer for another 3 years. By then Uncle Pete’s big U-boats had been removed from service, and I missed out. But after meeting Tom he graciously let me acquire a few copy slide out of his collection. I was thrilled to be getting slides of the very stuff I grew up on. Here’s a typical scene permanently burned into my memory…

1. UP 5021 & 5037 lead train 117 through Manhattan, KS on February 3, 1973.
Copy slide by the late Thos R Lee, my collection.

Thanks for looking back!
Lance Garrels
santafe199

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The UP sure had some interesting power back in the day.  Centennials, turbines, those big U50s.  Today, not so much.  It's the same boring power that every other railroad uses.  All one has to do is swap the paint schemes.

I saw a lot of those in the Topeka area, I worked across the river at the Santa Fe Shops, but you could hear them coming through town, and that chopping GE bark could be heard for miles.

Great shot !  Don't forget the Alco C855 , A-B-A  no less .