The 1400 afternoon yard is shoving north across the busy Post Road crossing in the industrial area down in the Ship Creek Basin east of the main rail yard. This mile long industrial lead splits off the main at a hand throw switch just north of CP 1147 and serves a handful of traditional carload customers clustered along its short length offering the lucky photographer innumerable angles. 1552 was one of four MP15 type locomotives that spent a decade and a half working for the ARR. Much loved by the crews they were alas sidelined by management that did not wish to upgrade them with PTC equipment. EMD MP15DC #1552 was built in October 1977 for the Lake Erie, Franklin and Clarion Railroad as their #26. When that little 15 mile Pennsylvania coal hauling shortline abandoned their entire railroad after 80 years in 1993 this unit and a sister were picked up by the ARRC (along with two other MP15s from another defunct shortline). She was pulled from service not long after this photo was taken and would languish in a dead line by the shop until early 2010 before leaving the state for good. But this unit continues in service as part of GATX's lease fleet now as GMTX 204 serving on the New Brunswick Southern. Anchorage, Alaska |
