Nostalgia & History > Time for a Cotton belt Break!

While scanning some Rock Island slides tonight, I ran across several shots of a cotton Belt SD45 that was visiting the Rock Island's El Reno Yard in June 1971.

Being a major SP fan, I took several shots of the 8966.

This picture shows SSW 8966 being moved from the Ready Shed to the east end of the Diesel Shop. This is a repost, I think.

Yardclerk

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As the unit passed, I took a detail shot of the front truck.

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The long hood and radiators

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The cab from the rear.

Yardclerk

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The next day, Caboose SP 1821 was on the Caboose service track at El Reno Yard.

It looks like it had a fresh paint job.

Yardclerk

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Hello Yard,

That is one nasty looking engine service area - looks like there was a ton of diesel fuel and oil spilled on the ground over time. The EPA would have a fit if a fraction of that was spilled today!

DFWJIM

wow, what's the story with that wooden RI caboose? any idea when built? looks like at least pre WW-1.

Good question!

I don't know anything about the wooden cabooses. They were just around and I never really thought about them that much.

They were primarily used on branchlines locals.

Occasionally, they would be run on mainline trains if a road caboose was not available. The rear end crews didn't like them either. They had no electricity. The Conductor had to hang his brake lantern on a nail above his desk to do his paperwork.

More than once, I have them referred to as "wooden axle S-O-Bs" by the unlucky road crew.

Yardclerk