| Illinois Central Gulf GP-26 2601, Chicago, Illinois, January, 1982, photo by Chuck Zeiler. Built as Gulf Mobile & Ohio GP-30 #502 (c/n #27906) December 1962 on order #7635, it became one of only two GP-26's built. The idea was to demonstrate ICG's Paducah Shops ability to remanufacture locomotives cost effectively to other railroads with aging second generation units. The intention was to use GP-35's as the starting point, up the horsepower a bit, thus achieving the suggested horsepower rating of the model designation. Instead, the demonstrators were two former GP-30's which retained their as-built 2250hp rating. The other GP26 was former GM&O GP30 514. This train is dropping down off the Saint Charles Air Line headed toward the former GM&O mainline. To the right are the leads to Dearborn Station, closed on May 2, 1971. |