June 7, 1973, finds us in Flagstaff, AZ, looking at a rather unusual shipment. A new General Electric model E60C locomotive for the Black Mesa & Lake Powell railroad is being transported to its new home.
Moving this load, and just as interesting to me as the locomotive, is a 1956 Kenworth Model LW523. I can only imagine what the driver(s)(another 523 powered rig is nuzzled up behind the lowboy and jeep trailer and is probably used for pushing and braking assistance) thought as they signed into work and accepted this challenge. I bet those Kenworths sounded just as awesome as this shipment looked heading out of town.

Joe McMillan photograph.
Chris Thompson collection.

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It's July, 1970, and what is probably northbound freight #72 is traversing 5th street in Lafayette. Shops yard is just a mile or so away where this train will receive at least a fresh crew, if not work the yard or swap power. Those hazy skies just seem to say, Welcome to summer in Indiana.
Original photographer unknown; Chris Thompson collection

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Mr. Peabody (and his pet boy, Sherman) have set the Wayback machine to September 1978, and we see Erie Western RS3's at their base of operations in Huntington, Indiana.
This is the former Erie and later E-L division point on the line to Chicago and was operated by Erie Western for about 18 months after the line was not included in Conrail.
Erie Western (ERES) used a fleet of four former CNW RS3's (two of which are seen here) and three former Long Island Railroad C420's. It was a far cry from the 20+ trains Huntingtgon saw each day under Erie Lackawanna, but in the intervening 40 years since this photo was taken, it's now almost impossible to believe that this scene ever existed. It's just plain all gone and much of the area has been redeveloped.
Erie Western has always been one of my favorite shortlines.

Original photographer unknown.
Chris Thompson collection.

Tags:   Erie Western Railway ERES Alco diesel

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Monon NW2 #17, built in 1947, rests outside the Monon shops at Lafayette, IN. It later became L&N 2206 and eventually was rebuilt into a slug for Southern Pacific.
July, 1970.

Photographer unknown, Chris Thompson collection.

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The only railroad to actually go through the City of Chicago was the Illinois Central. This train is weaving its way through downtown as a CTA passes overhead. 9-18-83.

Lundeen photo
Chris Thompson collection

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