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Category: Railroad in Focus

GP20 a unique diesel in Blacklands Railroad’s livery

Sep 11th, 2012

Like most short lines, the Blacklands Railroad runs diesel locomotives retired from Class I railroads. BLR’s three Electro-Motive engines from the General Purpose series have varied backgrounds that include duties far from their current home in East Texas. The Blacklands’ most identifiable locomotive is No. 201 with its red paint scheme and BLR herald, a yellow swoosh and lettering in a gray circle. According to Railroad Picture Archives, an online collection of railroad photos, the GP8 was built as a GP7 in June 1952 with a high, short hood and originated on the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie. The engine was sold to the Illinois Central Gulf and rebuilt as a GP8. No. 201 later operated on the Garden City & Western and is owned by Pioneer Equipment Co. (PREX). The GP9 No. 4601, which BLR owns, is a former Grand Truck Western Railroad unit that was rebuilt at the Battle…

  • Railroad in Focus
  • Current Issue: March/April 2023

     

     

    INSIDE THIS ISSUE

  • General Purpose

    Nearly 75 years after the first General Purpose locomotive rolled off the assembly line at General Motors’ Electro-Motive Division, the workhorse diesel is still doing the job it was meant to do. The four-axle “Geep” is making main line moves, switching industries and doing short road work on mostly secondary railroads. Introduced in 1949 as the “ugly duckling” GP7, it has settled into a comfortable role and is always in demand, whether by lease or purchase. The Cowcatcher looks at the locomotive’s rise and some of its popular variations.

  • NRail Celebrates 50 Years

    NTRAK is a household name in model railroading and has something to celebrate. NTRAK and T-TRAK organizations within NRail have blossomed in the last 50 years to become the glue or common thread of modular model railroading and promote N scale in most areas of the U.S. and Canada and other countries.

     

     

  • M.T.H. Regaining Footing

    Its future once uncertain, O model maker M.T.H. Electric Trains is moving forward with a new business plan making new model train products sold exclusively within the company’s dealer network.

     

  • PLUS…

    Columnist Michelle Kempema goes behind the scenes with an O-scale model railroad club looking to change its image. …

     

    BNSF goes BIG on intermodal plans to build a massive facility in Barstow, CA, to expedite container shipments. …

     

    The Rock Island’s Memphis-Californian went west to El Paso and took a lot of good company. …

     

     

    THESE STORIES AND MORE, PLUS A FULL CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS AND THE BUSINESS PULSE OF THE RAILROAD INDUSTRY!

     

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  • Back Issues

    Miss the January/February 2023 issue or other Cowcatcher editions? Be sure to check out our Back Issues page for any issues you may have missed. We have expanded descriptions for issues published beginning in 2007. Click here to order.

     

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  • Product News & Review

    InterMountain HO ADM Corn Syrup Car

     

    The Cowcatcher reviews InterMountain Railway Co.’s newly released HO-scale Trinity Industries 19,600-gallon corn syrup car. The tank car is one of several in the company’s second release.

     

    More product reviews!

     

    See product news!

     

  • Railroad in Focus

    Cowcatcher Magazine routinely features short lines and regional railroads that roam the Midwest and Southwest. Features include color photographs and maps, but an overview of operations and latest business trends.

     



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