KCS 1 - FP9A
Originally built for Canadian passenger service as CN 6512 in January 1955, the F9 now known as KCS 1 became VIA 6512 when Via Rail was spun off from CN in 1977. KCS purchased the F Unit in 1995 (along with its sisters that became KCS 2 & KCS 3) and had it rebuilt at Mid-America Car in Kansas City for business train service. Originally painted in a black paint scheme (matching the passenger cars), KCS repainted the F Units into their striking, current scheme in 2007 after the introduction of the Retrobelle paint scheme on freight locomotives.
KCS 1 was originally named "Meridian", though it was renamed "Shreveport" in 2001 (KCS 2 had been "Shreveport", but they swapped names). KCS 1 was given its new name, "Michael R Haverty", in 2019 to honor the former KCS CEO who helped shape the railroad into the multinational company that defined its last 20 years of operation (and KCS 2 was renamed back to "Shreveport"). Haverty was a big part of KCS's acquisition of the Mexican railroad concession that led to KCSM, the acquisition of the Gateway Western for access to St Louis, and in the partnership that led to the Meridian Speedway. He also brought back the Southern Belle paint scheme for KCS's locomotive fleet in 2007.
Here KCS 1 sits with the 2024 Holiday Express in Port Arthur, the Gulf Coast Port that Arthur Stillwell founded as the end of his original dream for what became Kansas City Southern. Although some of the KCS passenger cars have been repainted into CP Tuscan Red, many railcars and the F Units have maintained their KCS paint. It seems for the time being that they'll keep their sharp paint scheme as they continue to operate business trains on the former KCS system.
CPKC Holiday Express
KCS FP9A #1 "Michael R Haverty"
KCS F9B #3 "Pittsburg"
KCS FP9A #2 "Shreveport"
Port Arthur, TX
December 12th, 2024
KCS 1 - FP9A
Originally built for Canadian passenger service as CN 6512 in January 1955, the F9 now known as KCS 1 became VIA 6512 when Via Rail was spun off from CN in 1977. KCS purchased the F Unit in 1995 (along with its sisters that became KCS 2 & KCS 3) and had it rebuilt at Mid-America Car in Kansas City for business train service. Originally painted in a black paint scheme (matching the passenger cars), KCS repainted the F Units into their striking, current scheme in 2007 after the introduction of the Retrobelle paint scheme on freight locomotives.
KCS 1 was originally named "Meridian", though it was renamed "Shreveport" in 2001 (KCS 2 had been "Shreveport", but they swapped names). KCS 1 was given its new name, "Michael R Haverty", in 2019 to honor the former KCS CEO who helped shape the railroad into the multinational company that defined its last 20 years of operation (and KCS 2 was renamed back to "Shreveport"). Haverty was a big part of KCS's acquisition of the Mexican railroad concession that led to KCSM, the acquisition of the Gateway Western for access to St Louis, and in the partnership that led to the Meridian Speedway. He also brought back the Southern Belle paint scheme for KCS's locomotive fleet in 2007.
Here KCS 1 sits with the 2024 Holiday Express in Port Arthur, the Gulf Coast Port that Arthur Stillwell founded as the end of his original dream for what became Kansas City Southern. Although some of the KCS passenger cars have been repainted into CP Tuscan Red, many railcars and the F Units have maintained their KCS paint. It seems for the time being that they'll keep their sharp paint scheme as they continue to operate business trains on the former KCS system.
CPKC Holiday Express
KCS FP9A #1 "Michael R Haverty"
KCS F9B #3 "Pittsburg"
KCS FP9A #2 "Shreveport"
Port Arthur, TX
December 12th, 2024