Pushing bay window caboose #20254 on rear of train second SY-2

NG503028

Pushing bay window caboose #20254 on rear of train second SY-2

Diesel Transfer Locomotive

The 69 cars of the 2/SY-2 just pictured added up to enough tonnage to warrant assistance for the 6015, and this assistance was provided, as usual, by the East yard engine. The power assigned to this job turned out to be the 7111, one of the 2000-IP FairbanksMorse DFT units transferred from the Pennsylvania Division to the Big Four in early 1956. East Hill, where all the switching is done on a considerable grade, requires a yard engine with plenty of guts. A G-46 2-8-0 was usually assigned in steam days. When the diesels came, a 1200-HP EMD got the job, and a good deal of grumbling arose to the effect that the pickup was just too slow. When the 7100s showed up (16 of 19 actually came: of the others, two went to Detroit for yard service and the third became a hump engine at Stanley), one or two were always kept in the Indianapolis terminal, preparatory to entering Beech Grove for a general overhaul. With their horsepower, they soon found their way out to East Hill, where the complaints ceased forth with. The 7111 was next on the Beech Grove schedule when this was taken, and the smoke pouring from her crankcase breather indicated that she needed some extensive doctoring. Most of the 7100s on the Big Four were put to work on the Cairo Line, where they handle a variety of jobs, including through and local freight service, mine runs, and yard switching.

Jeremy Taylor

Jeremy Taylor

2-1/4x3-1/4 neg

Apr-56

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H-20-44

387

DFT-1b, Caboose

#7111,#20254

F-M

East Hill, Indianapolis, IN

See NG503028a