Eastern Railroad Discussion > Reliving old glory on NS #21Z

NS #21Z is one of the hottest trains on the Chicago Line across Ohio and Indiana, but it's usually one of the least interesting, as it typically draws a trio of standard NS high-horsepower safety-cab locomotives. Today it was quite late through Toledo, however, and when it popped into my viewfinder at Swanton from behind an empty Detroit Edison train waiting to leave Swanton Yard, I saw why: its leader was NS GP38-3 5804, apparently added somewhere when something in the regular road power went sour. When I moved to the Midwest 25 years ago, GP50s like the one since rebuilt as 5804 were premium intermodal power on NS, often drawing Triple Crown RoadRailer assignments. Today, getting any standard-cab locomotive on a hot train is a rarity, much less a four-axle from the yard/local pool.

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Great catch!! Truly rare on any class 1 railroads hottest trains these days.

Wow Dave. That is a fantastic photo. Totally great quality.

Definitely different.

gmojim

Nice shot and a GREAT catch. Nice to see the good-looking unit out stretching its legs!

~RGDave