Katy freight in Muskogee

Katy Flyer

Old caboose on a Katy freight

MP GP18 1941 at Muskogee OK (Shopton) in August 1975.

Shopton was located on Muskogee's southeast side and was the shops for the appropriately named Muskogee Lines. The shops were still being used by MP in 1975 for car repairs. This is the engine facility, with several cabooses and a pair of GP18s around to work what was left of the old Midland Valley.

Gregory J Sommers photo

MUSKOGEE OK June 1976 -- MKT GP40 214 awaits its crew in this undated photo. Note the newspaper just below the rear wheel on the lead truck. Now thats service. EMD built the 214 in November 1969. on March 19 1990 it became UP 584 when UP absorbed the Katy. It was sold to Helm Financial May 29 1998, rebuilt to a GP38-2 and leased to UP as 2558 on Dec 2 1998. On Dec 16 2008 it became UP 2004. On March 19 2007 it became UP 504. (Date approximate, Roster information from utahrails.net)

Train crosses diamond while MKT train led by Cotton Belt unit waits

MUSKOGEE OK April 1985 -- Burlington Northern GP15-1 1378 is tied up for the day. EMD built the unit (s/n 767076-4) for the Frisco as SLSF 103 in August 1977. It became BNSF 1478. (Date of photo approximate, roster information from http://archive.trainpix.com/BN/EMDORIG/GP15-1/INDEX.HTM, http://www.trainpix.com/bnsf/EMDORIG/GP15-1/INDEX.HTM and http://www.trainweb.org/emdloco/767076.htm)

MUSKOGEE OK April 1985 -- Union Pacific SD40-2 3215 leads a mixed freight around a curve on former Missouri Pacific tracks. EMD built the 3215 (s/n 72684-13) in April 1973. (Date of photo approximate, roster information from http://utahrails.net/all-time/all-time-45.php)

James Denike photo

Randy Curlin Collection

UP B23-7 4627 dominates this shot made at the former MKT yard in Muskogee OK. BN power, off the former SLSF line into town, rests in the background

In the former Katy yard; the BN GP38AC in the background (2128) was prior SLSF 652. And apparently, brother Rick was standing right next to me when I took this shot....

Remains of the Midland Valley's Shopton Yard, looking north. The shops were to the left; the sand tower still stands and a pair of units idle in the distance. The UP abandoned the remains of the MV south of here in 1990.

A local returning to the yard in Muskogee.

A Ex Conrail GP38-2 hangs out with some UP GE's at the Muskogee yard.

This is a bit of a mystery engine, lots of conflicting info on its past. I know it came through A&M to BTR Terminal at the Muskogee port. I'm sure it started as a N&W unit. Not sure what happened to it either.

Buried back in the trees was AS616 #53, ex Johnson Terminal in Muskogee, exx Trona. Terrible picture but still worth it for this beast.

At the point I shot this, 52 was owned by SMS Rail Services, and was stored literally in the 'back 40' of the Muskogee port. Half repainted into Johnson Terminal paint.

In 1998, a railfan on a weekend could find Baldwins, Alcos, and early Geeps at!the Port of Muskogee. Hiding literally back in the trees was AS616s 52 & 53, by this time owned by SMS Rail Services. A good shot was impossible without a chain saw, a boom truck, and several days effort, so this is what I could get.

52 was REALLY buried back in the trees, and faciqg south. A north end shot head on was only way to get this end.

53 was way back in the trees. These 2 Baldwins were stored on an unusjd spur, back in a forested area. Hard to find, which was the point, and helped keep them from being vandalized.

Let me state that this is NOT SMS #303 in this picture, but rather the same engine running at Johnston Terminal in Muskogee. Site doesn't have any pictures of her in Muskogee, and I can't find reporting marks for Johnston anywhere. If you know reporting marks, let me know and I'll correct this.

Before SMS, Johnston switched their terminal regularly with this S12. Here she's burbling away, waiting to shove the next hopper over the unloading pit.

This is the first time I ever saw a running Baldwin. Pretty sweet.

Not SMS when I shot this, went to New Jersey several years later.

This is the in-your-face shot....

note connection from Diesel track to yard

A five unit lash-up heading towards Houston, Texas. Shot at Muskogee, Oklahoma.

A five unit lash-up heading towards Houston, Texas. Shot in downtown Muskogee, Oklahoma.