Train second SY-2 passing target signal

NG503027

Train second SY-2 passing target signal

Steam Freight Train

The departure of 2/SY-2 from East Hill in the early afternoon is always an occasion of some significance, especially in lean times when there are often only three freight trains daily from Indianapolis to Cincinnati - 1/SY-2 around 6:00 AM, 2/SY-2, and CD-3 around 11:00 PM. When this was taken in April, 1956, the train was graced at the head end by S-1 no. 6015. She was at the time the sole survivor of her class and was limited to freight service, since all passenger service has been preempted by diesels in February of the same year. The general consensus was that she had, accepted her demotion in stride, and performed so well on manifests and even on drags that she was a pleasure to handle - this in days when there was always a possibility of getting a diesel. Of course, the S-1s were built as dual-service machines, although they were used mostly in passenger service, and such testimony was merely proof that their design and construction were soundly pointed toward their intended use. At the time of this exposure, the 6015 was heading up the East yard lead and bearing down upon the track in the foreground, known as the "old main", which runs to the main line at Beech Grove tower on the right and to the westbound receiving yard (hump leads) on the left. The crossing governed by the target is with the lead to Beech Grove shops, which are located behind the camera.

Jeremy Taylor

Jeremy Taylor

2-1/4x3-1/4 neg

Apr-56

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385

S-1b

#6015

Alco-Schen

Beech Grove, Indianapolis, IN

See NG503027a