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A second life for a MLW M-420, ex-ATSF SD39 and a CN GP9RM gets a raise!

IOWA INTERSTATE M-420R class engine IAIS 800 lies heavily stripped at the railroad’s shops in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on a dismal October 2nd, 2002. These smart looking Montreal Locomotive Works-built units were the first proper ‘wide cab’ locomotives (as opposed to cowl body types like the F45), this example previously wearing the attractive early red and white paint of the North Eastern regional Providence & Worcester.

With an eclectic set of freight cars in tow, which includes a ballast hopper, reefer box cars and corn syrup tank cars, Burlington Northern Santa Fe SD39u BNSF 6216 is busy trimming the bowl at Galesburg Terminal, Illinois, on May 20th, 2006. This ex-Atschison Topeka & Santa Fe six-axle unit, like the rest of its type on the roster, has now been renumbered (in this case to BNSF 1296) to make room for new General Electric ES44ACs.

This unusual sight greeted the photographer when he visited Champaign, Illinois, on September 20th, 2002. Zebra-striped Canadian National GP9RM (GR-418c) was suspended in mid-air undergoing repairs following a derailment with the help of a pair of caterpillar-tracked cranes. The damaged bogie was being replaced with one that was less bent! A perfect scene for modellers looking for an interesting cameo for their layout.