Spiffing Up the Power

It’s March of 1943, and we’re in the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe roundhouse located in the Argentine Yard in Kansas. Jack Delano photographed a worker washing down the nose of one of the road’s diesel locomotives.

This is a four unit set of EMD model FT locomotives, each producing 1,350 horsepower. The set had an “A” unit (a unit with a cab) on each end, and a pair of “B” units (without cabs) in the center. The road considered this a single 5,400 horsepower locomotive. While many FT locomotives were sold as a pair of semi-permanently units, the Santa Fe ordered theirs with conventional couplers at the end of each unit, thereby giving them more flexibility in their arrangement.

ATSF FT #103, Argentine, Kansas

2 thoughts on “Spiffing Up the Power

  1. “L S U”,
    Folks up here in Okie Land have Not said too much about the Tigers win over Clemson!
    Last month finished 3 acf 70 ton , one Bowser kit #56100. now is B.C.E. M15. Two other E & B valley are Burlington Route and Del/Hudson.
    Today should be able to finish Proto 2000 Double Decker Stock car.
    Glad to see you are on track w/ some great photo’s of our Great Country’s past History, wish the younger folks could enjoy the collection you have.
    Guess we can only model the past the way we saw it! And hope it inspires others into this Art form.
    later, Tiger Fan
    Boudreaux, back to the work bench on the Bayou Crest Express

  2. Hi Boudreaux,
    Yes, there is Tiger Fever down here! Today saw a big parade over at LSU with the Tigers on display to the masses.
    We also had our annual Train Day at the Library show in Baton Rouge. The show had a record attendance of over 700 folks, and that’s especially surprising considering the draw the Tigers had over at the campus.
    All the best,
    -Jack

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