Lashups of now classic EMDs are becoming harder to find in recent years, except they are still a common sight on the Silver Lines. The fleet is showing its age, but the SLRR mechanical department is able to make miracles happen sometimes. That doesn't mean they're not begging for new units, though. They're still enjoying their most recent batch of factory fresh motive power - from 2009.
With almost three quarters of the pre-1980 EMD fleet still in active service, you never know what to expect on a Silver Lines train. Despite many of its sister engines having fallen off of the roster over the years, GP9 #3027 rides in the middle of this classic EMD lashup, paired with an SD45 and two venerable SD40-2s. The leader, 4029, was the last SD40-2 out of the 375 ordered by the railroad and arrived in late 1979.
Here, our locomotives lead a high priority intermodal train through a tight curve outside of the nearby railyard and begin their ascent up the relatively steep grades of this division.
Cheers,
SM
