Train BF-7 at Gest Yard
Identifier
NG501034
Title
Train BF-7 at Gest Yard
Subject
Diesel Freight train
Description
Gest yard is located eight-tenths of a mile south of the tower along the main line to Cincinnati, and, as noted, handles northbound and southbound traffic. On this account, Gest is responsible for switching up three of the five local freights which run out of Bellefontaine - namely, the aforementioned St. Mary's local, the Carey local (three days a week), and the Springfield local (six days a week). Though there is not too much switching to be done on northbound through freights, the same does not hold true for southbounds, serving as they do the industrialized Miami Valley from Springfield south. To accomplish this rather extensive classification work, there are available at Gest one yard engine and 16 tracks (13 through and 3 stub). Closing this yard and shifting its work to East and BN yards has been a major objective, as yet unrealized, or several economy drives. The major problem is not so much the ability of the other yards to assume the burden, but rather the layout of track in and around Bellefontaine, which makes it impossible to yard north-south through freights in the east-west yards without resorting to the expensive (in terms of yard power and crews) and time-consuming methods used in the cases of DSL-1 and SLD-2. one suggestion, feasible physically if not in the light of labor demands, has been to reroute Bellefontaine-Toledo freights over the Cleveland line between Bellefontaine and Hayes tower at Ridgeway, thence via the Ohio Central Division to Kenton or, alternatively, all the way to Stanley. Meanwhile, activities at Gest continue; this picture shows BF-7, with 97 cars, pulling down the southbound main along the north end of the yard behind two GP-7s, no’s. 5632 and 5633.
Creator
Jeremy Taylor
Contributor
Jeremy Taylor
Format
2-1/4x3-1/4 neg
Date Created
Apr-53
Shopping
To buy a copy of this photograph; click here NG501034
Sub-Subject
GP7, GP7
Negative Number
292
Class-Lot
DRS-4e
Road Number
#5632, #5633
Builder
EMD
Location
Bellefontaine, OH
Notes
See NG501034a
Collection
Citation
Jeremy Taylor, “Train BF-7 at Gest Yard,” New York Central System Historical Society, accessed March 28, 2024, https://nycshs.omeka.net/items/show/85901.
Comments