A day on the WAMX 4122

[superfleet93]

One of the advantages living in a city where a shortline is headquartered is the abundance of odd power. Today Dash 9's are pretty much standard for the Class 1's and the power of yesteryear is showing up on more and more shortlines.

With my occupation, I have become good friends with a lot of the railroad employees and thus have been fortunate enough to get some great photographs.

Cherryvale, Kansas is the headquarters of the South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad known to railfans and employees as the SKOL. During the last year, I have begun to photograph lots of power owned by the SKOL and I will share my experiences riding the rails as well.

The pictures here are of WAMX 4122, SKOL train ID 202, also known as the Coffeyville Turn. Coffeyville Kansas is approximately 15 rail miles south of Cherryvale. There is one industry on this line between MP1.0 to MP 12.0 which is Liberty, Kansas at MP 8.0. The SKOL serves the Co-op during wheat harvest which has started here, and have only made a few set-outs and pick-ups in the last week. The 4122 is an ex-Milwaukee Road SD40-2 with the 81" nose, 3000 gallon fuel tank, and hood mounted bell. This unit has been rebuilt and upgraded to Dash 3 specs and overall isn't a bad running motor.

This picture was taken on the platform at the old Santa Fe Depot which is the office of the SKOL.



This second picture was taken from the cab on 4122, just getting ready to cross Main Street on 1 track.



Hope you enjoy and I'll keep posting pics!

Perry

[Randy Earle]

Nice shots, at first glance I figured they were ex-CSX units.

[superfleet93]

Ask and ye shall receive...and I'll post more in another thread.



Perry

[Randy Earle]

Oh I like that! A couple of those would look great on the River Run.

[superfleet93]

For some reason Stephen they have made it to Kansas...for whatever reason. Word is through the grape vine WATCO is paying scrap prices for a lot of their power. They can spend $9,000.00 on a new paint job, but not on an a/c unit which costs $900.00. Believe me, after riding in these they need them. Go figure...

Perry

[sarge]

Here are some K&O/WAMX units that passed through Lawton OK. on the Stillwater Central Railroad.(SLWC) Both railroads are owend by WATCO. sorry for the cell phone pic quality, these were taken on the fly.

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[superfleet93]

Thanks for posting those Jim! That power creeps up to Wichita every now and then.

Perry

[CIOR]

didn't they have the Penn Central engine? Or was that another WAMX property?

[superfleet93]

Matt,

A few years ago the Kansas and Oklahoma (WATCO) railroad had an ex-Penn Central GP38 which was still in all black. Unfortunately I didn't take any photos of that unit before I moved and I haven't seen it since. However, that doesn't mean it isn't somewhere on the property.

Perry

[CIOR]

Jul 30, 2008 18:58:58 GMT -5 superfleet93 said:

Matt,

A few years ago the Kansas and Oklahoma (WATCO) railroad had an ex-Penn Central GP38 which was still in all black. Unfortunately I didn't take any photos of that unit before I moved and I haven't seen it since. However, that doesn't mean it isn't somewhere on the property.

Perry

Perry, the only reason I knew about it was RedP sent me a Youtube link with it in there. I was shocked and have wondered what happened to it since. thanks for the info!