On February 8, 1963 CB&Q passenger train local east #8 carries meat behind the passenger consist in three different types of cars; regular refirgerator car, container on flats (new for the CB&Q), and piggyback. Once in a while meat from Lincoln, Nebraska meatpackers misses the connection to Omaha and Q's new solid meat train to Chicago. So, to fulfill its contract, the Q takes the Lincoln meat up to Omaha on the back of one of its passenger trains. If the meat still misses its Omaha connection, then it rides with Q's passenger #8 all the way to Chicago. On the day this pix was taken, there were ten cars of meat plus a waycar (caboose) behind the passenger train out of Lincoln. So far, this rare event happens once ot twice a month. Editors note: The lower keystone on the front of the trailer reads: ETLC EXCELSIOR TRUCK LEASING CO.

When Porter 8902 at the Galesburg tie plant finally wore out and was retired in late 1964, the 9107 was moved to Galesburg as a replacement. Renumbered 8903, it was outfitted with the large buffer plates removed from the 8902. All five 44 tonners (9103 - 9107) were still on the roster at the time of the BN merger, but only two were actually still in service: 8903 at Galesburg and 9106 at Superior Nebraska. The only 44 tonner to actually operate on the BN was 9106 renumbfred 3 shortly after the merger. It was used in and around Superior Nebraska. When the C&NW's Lincoln - Superior branch suffered a washout, rather than repair the damage, the North Western suspended service south of the missing bridge until shippers protested. The C&NW then arranged for its Superior agent to drive to the last town north of the washout, pick up the crew of the local, and bring them to Superior. The North Western crew worked the isolated end of the branch using BN 3, bring all the cars into Superior. Unfortunately the BN did not want the unit, so it was sold to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. in April 1971, and the unusual operation ended. The 44 tonner was quickly resold, going to northern California's Camino Placerville & Lake Tahoe. During 1971 and 1972, the shortline rebuilt the locomotive, using the hoods from its Phase V 44 tonner 101 - still numbered as such. By mid-1974 the unit was renumbered 102 and lettered for the parent Michigan - California Lumber Co. It remained in use at last report.

In my opinion, the Alco RS2 had the worst fuel filler location of any locomotive design, EVER. It's located on the cab sidewall, and you can see the fuel spill running through the word WEST. The fuel tank was located beneath the cab, also not a good plan IMO. On the other hand, I'm impressed that the UP added a nice all-weather cab window, and it appears that someone took the time to block off the hood top cab windows with brown paper.