VO-1000m 215 at Springfield, Missouri in June 1970 (Mac Owen).

This is the west end of the locomotive service tracks area just southeast of the Diesel Shop at Springfield Yard. Under construction overhead is the new overpass for North Kansas Avenue. Just to the east, beyond the bridge piers and I-beams, is the newly constructed covered service tracks area. Above the locomotive’s cab, in the distant shadows, note the upper wall vents, roof support trusses and hanging area lights of the service tracks shed.

VO-1000 215 was originally built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Eddystone, Pennsylvania. It entered service with the Frisco on January 15, 1944. Later, it was one of three units (205, 210, 215) sent to General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD) for repowering in 1957. At the firm’s La Grange, Illinois plant it was repowered on March 26, 1957. Thus the modified or “m” model designation. In 1959 six additional VO-1000 units (200-204, 206) were also rebuilt. During rebuilding the latter group were also equipped with multiple unit (MU) controls.

Behind the subject locomotive is an unidentified standard VO-1000. At this date it is one of fifteen possibilities (208, 211, 212, 214, 217, 218, 219, 222, 224, 226, 231, 232, 234, 236 or 237). The other un-repowered VO-1000 and all the DS-4-4-1000 units had been retired. Visible in the distance on Service Track 4 between the switch engines is one of nine unidentified 30 series (30-34, 36-39 – 35 was retired in 1969 before the photograph) F7A units.

The view is looking northeast.

Special thanks to Mark Davidson.

VO-1000m 200 at Springfield, Missouri in September 1978.

VO-1000m 204 at Memphis, Tennessee on November 16, 1968 (James Herold).