Desert High Hoods
Arizona Central Railroad's trio of classic first generation GPs lead four coal loads and five empty cement hoppers out of Drake, Az, embarking on a roughly four hour journey to the railroad's only customer at the end of the line in Clarkdale, AZ. AZCR 3413, a former Southern Pacific GP9R, AZCR 2279, a former TPW and later Michigan Northern GP7 high hood, and former ATSF chopnose GP7 2164, make up the classic set of power as the two "newer" GP26s rest at the roundhouse in Clarkdale. After never having caught the high hood lead a train back with cars since 2013, I had to make one more trip when I found out all three old units were currently paired up and new GP38-3 replacements (or perhaps additions) were on the way. The railroad has been quite busy, running several times a week now compared to twice a week a year or two ago and a handful of times a month back in 2013 when I first visited. With two new GP38-3s now on the property, I can only hope the high hoods will continue to see service. So far they've stayed busy despite the two GP26s that were added to the fleet last year, but catching all three matching units and a high hood leading will probably become much harder if not impossible to catch. Here the train is seen catching the morning sun and crossing a wooden trestle after having just departed the BNSF interchange in Drake.
Desert High Hoods
Arizona Central Railroad's trio of classic first generation GPs lead four coal loads and five empty cement hoppers out of Drake, Az, embarking on a roughly four hour journey to the railroad's only customer at the end of the line in Clarkdale, AZ. AZCR 3413, a former Southern Pacific GP9R, AZCR 2279, a former TPW and later Michigan Northern GP7 high hood, and former ATSF chopnose GP7 2164, make up the classic set of power as the two "newer" GP26s rest at the roundhouse in Clarkdale. After never having caught the high hood lead a train back with cars since 2013, I had to make one more trip when I found out all three old units were currently paired up and new GP38-3 replacements (or perhaps additions) were on the way. The railroad has been quite busy, running several times a week now compared to twice a week a year or two ago and a handful of times a month back in 2013 when I first visited. With two new GP38-3s now on the property, I can only hope the high hoods will continue to see service. So far they've stayed busy despite the two GP26s that were added to the fleet last year, but catching all three matching units and a high hood leading will probably become much harder if not impossible to catch. Here the train is seen catching the morning sun and crossing a wooden trestle after having just departed the BNSF interchange in Drake.