SW9s 313 and 312, GP35 706 and GP38-2 428 at St. Louis, Missouri in October 1978.
This photograph was taken on the north side of Lindenwood Yard. This late afternoon shot is of the Mechanical Department’s service tracks area east of the Lindenwood Diesel Shop. In silhouette on the right of the image is the east wall of the shop.
Two additional locomotives can be identified in this view. The locomotive in front of SW9 312, in mandarin orange and white paint is NW2 257. On the same track as but to the west of Frisco GP38-2 428 is Union Pacific (UP) U30C 2815.
The locomotive is sitting at the Mechanical Department’s service tracks area at Lindenwood Yard. This facility is on the north side of the yard, east of the diesel shop. The sand tower is at the end of the locomotive fuel pad. The locomotive is facing west/southwest.
A number of interesting locomotive details are visible in this view: On the cab these include the whip radio antenna, yellow cab light for identification, upper cab front vent next to the horn, low under floor air filter on the cab front and engineer’s all weather window extension. Lettering on the below cab floor access door specifies the locomotive’s make, model, horsepower and assigned maintenance location. The lettering reads “EMD – SW9 – 1200 HP” on the top line, with “ST. LOUIS, MO” underneath.
On the forward car body hood are the bell with air operated ringer, radiator water fill offset to the far side, 3 hood lift rings positioned along the handrail and the blank capped lower lamp of the headlight. Note the Frisco replaced two doors adding louvers to improve ventilation. These were added near the main generator (door left of the “F”) and air compressor (door with the “C”).
The front pilot also includes an elevated multiple unit step with associated handrail modifications. In this case the drop step is in the up position and the crossover chain is positioned across the end handrail opening for crew safety. To its left is the MU electrical receptacle, crossover step light and associated conduit. There are also added MU fittings and air hoses either side of the coupler near the train line air hose.
Below the frame side sill details include a ground light (below cab), front and rear jacking pads (lettered above “Lift Here”), air tank filter, fuel filler pipe, emergency fuel cut-off switch, fuel tank and main air reservoir tanks with associated piping. Above the front truck are two “L” shaped brackets to hold a re-rail frog. One was not hung on this side of the locomotive in this photograph.
