KCS GP30 Finale - Video From 1990 Uploaded

KCS GP30s Remembered

My latest VHS Video to YouTube upload is a gem--the final departure of KCS GP30s from the New Orleans area railroad scene.  During the 1980's any dayllight visit to the KCS West Yard diesel shop would find a trio of KCS GP30's laying over between nocturnal runs of the Baton Rouge Turn.  An additional GP30 or two were commonly on-hand as well.  On August 3, 1990 that changed forever and I was lucky enough to record the event.

The KCS bought 20 GP30s during 1962-63, and the last of these were taken out of service in 1990.  In their final years of operation, six of these were assigned to the diesel shop in New Orleans.  Three were used on the nightly turn to Baton Rouge, one each was used at Norco and Gramercy, and one was kept as a spare. 
 
In late July and early August 1990, four GP40s were assigned to New Orleans, and the GP30s were moved to Shreveport.   GP30s 4103, 4109 and 4115 left on Saturday 28 July, while the 4112, 4106 and 4113 went out for the last time on Friday 3 August.  Here are the last three units leaving New Orleans on their final run. This was intermodal train No. 10 with SD60s 723 and 716, 38 cars and caboose 309.
 
The 4106 and 4113 were sold to the Indiana & Ohio as their 83 and 84, while the 4112 went to the Southeast Kansas Railroad and kept its same number.

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Chris