Pueblo Yard 1974 ... the ATSF 2574 a CF-7... and a GP-7 the next shift in Tales of the Jointed Track

The 2574 was a CF-7 rebuild. The Santa Fe shops in Cleburne, Texas, rebuilt old F-7 car body units, into a road switch type of locomotive. Some were good, and some were bad. some, couldn’t pull me outta bed, with one foot on the floor and the covers thrown back.

wow I found the 2574, probably in better days than in Pueblo, CO on the yard job

I was still working Bill Davis’ vacation. These were 7 day per week yard jobs, it’s changed since then. I’m settling into the routine. This is still the south lead job. Usually, we had 2 units, to maximize, shoving tracks and pulling long cuts. We took switched cuts off the hump tracks,and made up trains on the yard side.

I reported to the switchman’s locker room. The speaker bellowed. We were given our assignment. and the engine was the ATSF 2574. The pin puller and I went to the fuel track and grabbed the engine. The field man and the switch foreman, got the list off the printer in the yard office. Got permission from the mechanical end to come off the fuel tracks, and from the yardmaster, to work our way to the class tracks.

This unit wasn’t really strong, and be barely made our first shove with 20 cars into Yard 5. I told Danny, “This motor is not doing good. Not that I don’t like it, it is not performing. It loads slow and doesn’t keep the power applying. The air compressor is having a hard time filling up a balloon, let alone pumping off the air”. “Well, we’‘ll work with it till, it takes a fucking dump on the lead”… Ahh Danny, our wizened sage on the railroad.

We grab class 10, these are 6, TTX long flatcars . These are old inter modal flats, some have been modified and are heading up to the military at Ft. Carson. The draw bars are cushioned, they slide, the hoses, if not properly positioned can come apart, and place a train or switch cut into emergency.

Pulling Class 10, there is a series of curves and switches. As we snake down the lead, PTisssshhhhhh, the vent valves open and we go into emergency. I reset the PCS, the compressor, is trying to keep up. The main reservoir, hovers at 50 lbs, it should be higher. There is an open trainline, I cut the valve out and the main reservoir struggles to get to 130 lbs.. The pin puller, gives me an “air” sign and goes between the cars, the air hoses are mated, and he clears. As he walks back, I cut in the brake valve. It starts draining the main reservoir again, but it is manageable, the vent valves re seat, and we’re pumping off the air.

As a note the switch crew gave you 10 to 15% of the air for braking the switch cuts. If you needed more you had to tell them. I had all 6 of the TTX flats, and 3 other empty cars…then 11 behind , no big deal.

We start to pull again…go 3 cars and PTisssshhhhhh, emergency again. The unit is struggling, to keep air… I cut the brake valve out again, to help it recover air. I am now at 30 lbs, main reservoir, 30 lbs, independent brake valve …zero train line. The cut is still pushing me, the engine brakes can’t hold it. I run back and cinch up the handbrake, we slowly stop… I still cant get air…the compressor, is worthless. The radio bellows, George Poteet the yardmaster. “Come on Terry, ya don’t need a 90 lbs brake pipe ya ain’t going to Denver”!!! ” Yeah, fine George, the main reservoir in the last 5 minutes has gone from 32 lbs to 35, and it can’t even keep the independent at pressure”. ” Cut it off and take it to the fuel track grab another unit, this whole yard is blocked”!! It wasn’t, but we limped the 2574, into the fuel track. We told mechanical. they tagged it and it headed toward, Newton, KS for repair, on the next train east.

We got an early quit, one shift. I headed for Denver at 900 pm. I’d get to my place, then Aurora, CO at 1130 PM. I get some quick sleep time, get some laundry going, empty the mailbox, grab some bills, I’ll pay some here, I’ll finish the rest off in Pueblo. I am off for Pueblo, and arrive at 130 pm.. On duty in an hour. I grab some fast food somewhere. When we take our lunch, McDonald’s, by the yard, I can slam a Big Mac, and a large fries. This would kill me now, and be back ready to go.

I get to the Switchman’s locker room, today, it’s a relief crew. We get lined up. Today an old GP-7, high hood, 24 RL Automatic brake valve, SA-24 independent brake valve. The old style control stand. It’s as old as me, and really old school. It’s in the old Santa Fe “freight” blue…with yellow stripping, numbers and lettering.

An old Santa Fe GP-7 in the “Freight Blue” scheme.

We start switching, and this motor is strong. Yeah it’s only 1500 HP, but its doing what is needed. It’s cloudy, and threatening rain. I put on the old cab heater, surprise, it works.. It’s starts to sprinkle, as we shove into Yard 9. The pin is lifted, a back up, KA-CHOW, as the cut goes into emergency. I’m told take the pin puller to the class tracks, we’re getting our rain gear. Stop out front, he’ll get his. Look for us, we’‘ll get lined up for the next move. Ya know, we never stopped, continual flow.

We finished out switching without further delays, Pueblo yard survived another day.