by Randy Keller/photos from the author’s collection
The Third Quarter 2022 issue of Diesel Era provided a little history about the creation of Econo-Rail Corporation and how it evolved into today’s Trans-Global Solutions, Inc. It provided a history of their locomotive purchases over a 40-year period, the evolution of their paint schemes, and shared nearly sixty images of their diverse and colorful locomotive roster over the years. This issue continues the rainbow of colors and varied paint schemes, with another wide-ranging collection of images, plus an all-time TGS/Econo-Rail locomotive roster…
ABOVE: Econo-Rail 2 NW2 (EMC 850, E256-2, blt. 05/39) was Phelps Dodge Corp. 2, shown above on November 20, 1995, at Gila Bend, Ariz., in maintenance-of-way service. Econo-Rail was contracted to provide rail service during demolition of the Ajo, Ariz., copper smelter. Econo-Rail marked four locomotives (Econo-Rail NW2s 2, 3, 5, and GP7 10) with unofficial reporting marks ECRL and “TC&GB” for their rail operation, the Tucson, Cornelia & Gila Bend Railway. —Steve Vincent photos, Randy Keller collection
ABOVE: ECRX 6563 GP35 (EMD 28878, 7695-44, blt. 02/64) ex-SP 6563, originally SP 7451, shown March 27, 2000, at Taylor, Texas, joining the AUAR fleet of locomotives in McNeil, Texas. —Tony Vanier photo below, Richard Lorntzen collection
ABOVE: Econo-Rail (ER) 10 GP7 (EMD 16897, 5160-2, blt. 06/52) ex-Phelps Dodge Corp. 10 at Ajo, Ariz., nee-Phelps Dodge 2 at Morenci, Ariz. — Steve Vincent photo, Randy Keller collection