Cotton Belt's unique diesels

[SSW9389]

Cotton Belt had some very unique diesels. When compared to the rest of the Espee there were some diesel models that were Cotton Belt only.

The first freight diesels on the Cotton Belt were five sets of FTs built by EMD in 1944-45. These units were delivered in ABBA formation and served well until traded in on GP20s 1960-1962.

Next up are five 608NAs. Cotton Belts DS4-4-10s used the eight cylinder engine while all of Espee's used the 606SC engine. These units served 1947-1966.

The one and only Baldwin Center Cab DT6-6-2000 was a common feature on the Waco to Gatesville run from 1948-1963 when it was traded in on an SP U25B.

The two Cotton Belt PA-1s were not unique to the Espee system, but they did lack dynamic brakes. The pair was leased to the Espee in late 1959 after Cotton Belt passenger service had ended.

The four SW7s were the first 1200 horsepower switchers on the system and the only SW7s.

The Cotton Belts sole FP7 was not unique in that the Espee had 16 FP7s. But the Cotton Belt FP7 was the only F unit ever painted in Daylight colors. The Cotton Belt FP7 was leased to Espee in early 1960.

Cotton Belt's GP7 was the only GP7 on the system and it too was delivered in Daylight paint in 1950. It served until late 1972.

Cotton Belt had 17 RS-3s, a half dozen of them were equipped for passenger service. These ALCOs lasted until 1968-69.

Cotton Belt had the systems only pure GP40s delivered in early 1966. These were later rebuilt.

Cotton Belt SD45 #8971 was involved in a fatal accident with a propane truck near Tyler, TEXAS in 1970. It was sent back to EMD and rebuilt as the Cotton Belt #9156.

Cotton Belt had 94 tunnel motors and no tunnels. The road rostered 84 of the SD45T-2s and 10 of the SD40T-2s. Cotton Belt SD45T-2 #9389 was the 600th numbered 3600 horsepower unit delivered from EMD and was chosen to wear a Bicentennial paint scheme.

Cotton Belt B36-7 #7771 was wrecked and rebuilt as a cabless unit.

Up until 1966 Cotton Belt units were delivered with yellow handrails, while Southern Pacific units had white handrails.

That's all I could think of and I am sure there are others.

Ed

[SSW9389]

This does not make them unique, but it appears that a baker's dozen Cotton Belt EMD units were built at the Cleveland Plant. These 13 units would be the four NW2s #1050-1053, the four SW7s #1054-1057, the four SW9s #1058-1061 and the lone GP7 #320 (304). The EMD Cleveland Plant only produced diesel locomotives from December 1948 to April 1954. Thanks to Eric Hirsimaki for his article "These units were not built at La Grange", from Kalmbach's Classic Trains "Diesel Victory" special issue.

[espeefoamer]

Late in thier lives, the SSW FTs were rebuilt with F7 style grilles on their sides.They were unique in this aspect.

[SSW9389]

Cotton Belt's 915 and 920 sets of FTs were delivered to that road on Wednesday July 4, 1945. Why that's 62 years ago today!

[SSW9389]

Unique to the Espee System is this lone Cotton Belt GP7. Shown here in a photo by Cotton Belt Train Order Clerk Terry A. Kirkland. The photo is at the Commerce, TEXAS engine facility in the Summer of 1972.

[SP 9811]

Nice!

[SSW9389]

One of eight Cotton Belt GP40s #7600-7607. These were the only pure GP40s on the Espee System dating from early 1966.
Terry A. Kirkland photograph.

[SSW9389]

Here is another Terry Kirkland photo showing a meet between an RS-3 led train and one led by a low nose GP9 or GP20. Note the headlight gleem on the hood of the geep. Photo dates from the later 1960s as all RS-3s were gone by May 1969.

The calendar idea is just for fun.

[SSW9389]

Another Terry Kirkland photo here of a Cotton Belt RS-3 at work. This photo had a 6-63 date on its outside edge. Terry was 17 at the time the photograph was taken and lived in Grapevine, TEXAS. It is likely the site of the photograph or a town nearby on the Cotton Belt line to Fort Worth.

[espeelover]

Jul 25, 2007 9:03:41 GMT -5 SSW9389 said:

One of eight Cotton Belt GP40s #7600-7607. These were the only pure GP40s on the Espee System dating from early 1966.
Terry A. Kirkland photograph.

Very nice, you deserve karma just for posting the GP7 and GP40 pics....very nice indeed.

COTTON BELT ROCKS!

[SSW9389]

Just a note here on Terry Kirkland (1945-2002). He worked for the Cotton Belt from 1972 up to the Borg Merger and then worked for that railroad until he had to medically retire in about 1999. I met Terry in Commerce, Texas in late August 1972. We were likely the only two railfans in Commerce, Texas at the time. I sat in with Terry while he worked his operators job in Commerce many times. I lost track of Terry, but never forgot him. We used to go all over east Texas and up into Arkansas to photograph trains. Several years ago by pure chance I found out that Terry had passed away and left a considerable photo legacy. I was given this photo collection with the understanding that it be shared with those who would want to see Terry's photos. There are about 20 or so over on Richard Percy's website and a bunch more that will be seen around the net.



Cotton Belt GP20 on the ready track in Commerce, Texas. Note the yellow on the handrails looks to be bleeding through. Also note the cotton wagon in the background a sure identifier of the Commerce engine facility.

[espeelover]

GP20's....drool! I don't suppose you got any F units in the photo mix?

[SSW9389]

The only F unit photo I have is one Terry Kirkland took in 1963 that shows an F unit led train in the far distance approaching a station. There is no detail to the shot and I have to say it was due to Terry's inexperience as a photographer, he was 17 when the photo was taken. The Terry Kirkland I met in 1972 was the refined edition that had been honing his craft for some years.

[SSW9389]

This particular SD45 is unique in that it was delivered by EMD to Cotton Belt twice. The first time it was #8971. It kept that identity until a June day in 1970 when it was involved in a grade crossing accident at Tyler with a propane gas truck. The wrecked unit was returned to EMD for rebuild and emerged in June 1971 as the sole occupant of Cotton Belt class EF636C-5 and wearing #9156, the highest numbered SD45 on the Espee System. My friend Terry Kirkland photographed it behind the Commerce Depot on the yard switch lead.



Thanks to JDH for the photo edit.

[espeelover]

Okay, a B-30-7 in not really unique, but....if you factor in how many tunnels are on the SSW, well, you get my point.
Air foils on U-Boats? These were running around just after the GP40X's lost their ears.



Photo taken September of 1980, at Colton Tower.