Substitute
This scene takes place at Crater Canyon, Arizona - about 42 miles up track from Fort Legoredo and 26 miles from the huge iron bridge spanning the canyon itself. This photo was taken in Summer 1976 at the railroad station just outside of town. Here we see one the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe's few remaining cab passenger loco's pulling into the depot for refueling operation for it's vintage 1949 F3 diesel loco units and for letting off / on of passengers and freight. But as Amtrak was around (and had it's own engines) by 1976, why was this Santa Fe engine hauling a Amtrak train into town?
After a bit of sleuthing I found the answer: Because the Amtrak locomotive broke down (probably a SDP40F) further upgrade, near the middle of New Mexico. Anyway, the two Santa Fe units were nearby in Albuquerque waiting for the next freight train to come by and were just cut in instead. So, these old former Santa Fe Super Chief engines got one last day in the limelight hauling the Amtrak Southwest Chief.
(If your wondering why this picture is named why it is, The Who's song "Substitute" was playing while typing this, and it fits the fictional story I told very well.)
Substitute
This scene takes place at Crater Canyon, Arizona - about 42 miles up track from Fort Legoredo and 26 miles from the huge iron bridge spanning the canyon itself. This photo was taken in Summer 1976 at the railroad station just outside of town. Here we see one the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe's few remaining cab passenger loco's pulling into the depot for refueling operation for it's vintage 1949 F3 diesel loco units and for letting off / on of passengers and freight. But as Amtrak was around (and had it's own engines) by 1976, why was this Santa Fe engine hauling a Amtrak train into town?
After a bit of sleuthing I found the answer: Because the Amtrak locomotive broke down (probably a SDP40F) further upgrade, near the middle of New Mexico. Anyway, the two Santa Fe units were nearby in Albuquerque waiting for the next freight train to come by and were just cut in instead. So, these old former Santa Fe Super Chief engines got one last day in the limelight hauling the Amtrak Southwest Chief.
(If your wondering why this picture is named why it is, The Who's song "Substitute" was playing while typing this, and it fits the fictional story I told very well.)