Extra Board

Welcome to Extra Board! This section is updated periodically with short features contributed by our readers, as well as some recent favorites straight from the pages of Diesel Era Magazine. Check back as we continue to add new articles!

Minnesota Commercial Motive Power Survey

Minnesota Commercial Motive Power Survey

Minnesota Commercial is a short line that began its current operations with the lease of Minnesota Transfer Railroad in February 1987.

Norfolk & Western’s High-Hood SD40-2 Units

Norfolk & Western’s High-Hood SD40-2 Units

Norfolk & Western and Southern Railway were the only customers for EMD’s high-hood variant of the SD40-2, but N&W only placed one order for eleven units in 1972.

Rock Island GP40s: Final Order 4700-4719

Rock Island GP40s: Final Order 4700-4719

Despite its financial challenges that began developing in earnest in the mid-1960s, Rock Island was a solid supporter of Electro-Motive Division’s GP40.

Union Pacific and Missouri Pacific ex-Rock Island GP40s

Union Pacific and Missouri Pacific ex-Rock Island GP40s

Following its 1980 bankruptcy and liquidation, former Rock Island GP40s found a new home on Missouri Pacific and Union Pacific.

A History of Santa Fe SD45-2s

A History of Santa Fe SD45-2s

EMD’s SD45-2 was the answer to Santa Fe’s need for a new six-axle diesel to power their high-priority freight and intermodal trains.

Trans-Global Solutions/Econo-Rail Part 2

Trans-Global Solutions/Econo-Rail Part 2

In Part 2, we continue our review of Econo-Rail Corporation and how it evolved into today’s Trans-Global Solutions, Inc.

Trans-Global Solutions/Econo-Rail Locomotive Lessor and Third-Party Contractor

Trans-Global Solutions/Econo-Rail Locomotive Lessor and Third-Party Contractor

Trans-Global Solutions/Econo-Rail Locomotive Lessor and Third-Party Contractor

LS&I’s Cascade Green Machines

LS&I’s Cascade Green Machines

Built by General Electric for Burlington Northern in the early 1970s, these U30Cs have a half-century of service on their resumes as they run off their final miles on Lake Superior & Ishpeming.

They Were Big in Wyoming: Burlington Northern U30Cs

They Were Big in Wyoming: Burlington Northern U30Cs

Burlington Northern began buying General Electric’s six-axle U30C diesel locomotives in 1972, adding 180 units to the fleet.

They Weren’t Exactly Burlington: Colorado & Southern U30Cs

They Weren’t Exactly Burlington: Colorado & Southern U30Cs

Before Burlington Northern’s arrival in 1970, Burlington subsidiary Colorado & Southern purchased four General Electric U30Cs (890–893) in 1968.