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Thomas E Austin | profile | all galleries >> MoPac-CO&E Interchange freight @ Marion IL tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

MoPac-CO&E Interchange freight @ Marion IL

The Crab Orchard and Egyptian Railroad is a shorline railroad in extreme Southern Illinois...It consists of a former ICG rail line in and around Marion IL. The CO&E crosses the MoPac (ex-C&EI) Main Track to Joppa and Thebes IL. The shots here are from 1984...MP 3515 is a freshly repainted GP50; as the UP-MP-WP merger was taking its' toll on the Jenks Blue Motive power that we MoPac fans were very fond of. The last shots are of a southbound coal train that is passing by as MP 3515 gets in the clear on the CO&E interchange trackage.

CO&E No. 17 was a consolidation-type locomotive...At the time of these photos, the CO&E was ALL STEAM!! The RR has since retired its' steam engines in favor of two ex-MoPac SW1200 diesel switchers, and an SW1. The UP still interchanges traffic with the CO&E, as does the BNSF RR.
MP 3515 stops at Marion IL with Interchange Traffic.
MP 3515 stops at Marion IL with Interchange Traffic.		 MP and CO&E Employees ready for exchange of cars
MP and CO&E Employees ready for exchange of cars		 3515 gets ready to uncouple cars as CO&E #17 eases past
3515 gets ready to uncouple cars as CO&E #17 eases past		 CO&E #17 eases onto MP Main to pick up cars.
CO&E #17 eases onto MP Main to pick up cars.
CO&E #17 couples onto cars and gets ready to pull them back onto CO&E Track.
CO&E #17 couples onto cars and gets ready to pull them back onto CO&E Track.		 MP 3515 clears the Main for a southbound Coal Train.
MP 3515 clears the Main for a southbound Coal Train.

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Thomas E Austin 02-Mar-2007 17:33
July 26, 1984. I went back and got the slides out after seeing your question, Edward. They are date stamped as such. Thanks!! Brings back memories, doesn't it?
Edward Bridges 21-Dec-2006 21:23
Have an exact date for when this took place?? I know it was July,, 1985, but would like to find an exact day. I was there that day, but without a camera.
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