by Noel Weaver
On the Florida East Coast the SD-40-2 is very much alive and well. Consider - around 11:00 PM give or take a bit northbound 336 with 2 SD-40-2's (700's) will go north enroute from Medley to City Point with a train of from 60 to 160 cars of rock. After slowing down for the Fort Lauderdale Bridge they are a sight to see and hear. For example Sunday, May 18th 708 and 715 headed up 121 cars of rock on 336 and passing my spot north of the Fort Lauderdale Bridge they were running in the 8th notch and both engines were pulling very hard. If you like SD-40-2's with standard cabs this is a sight and sound to behold. Sometimes the train also has champions (repainted SD-40-2's) which is like icing on the cake. The engines are kept clean too. On the above date we had three northbound trains within an hour; 224 at 11:20 PM, 336 at 11:30 PM and 226 at 12:05 AM, all three had good size trains too.
Noel Weaver
Noel Weaver