Kansas City Southern System
Digital Photos
4000-Series

by Mike Condren

Next I spot on the DPUs on the southbound freight.

The mid-train DPUs were KCS SD70ACes in different paint schemes. Note that the "warrenty" ran out on the gray unit in 10/09. Also note the "stop sign" herald on the black covered hopper on the "near still born" Howe Coal Co. balloon loop.

On my trip back to Memphis, the scanner announced an empending meet at Stillwell, OK. The southbound arrives first. It stops south of the restored station and waits for the northbound movement. The northbound shows up 20 minutes later and "takes the siding". It turns out to be 4 units running light, 2 BNSFs and 2 KCS "retro Belles". I then head north to get the light engines.

KCS #4040 and #4050 are seen on the head of a southbound freight at the fuel rack in Heavener, OK, 1/5/08.

All trains passing through Heavener, OK get fueled. Here we see a southbound freight still sitting at the fuel rack while the DPU unit on the rear of an empty coal train pulls up to be refueled, 1/5/08.

These are the DPU units of a loaded coal train sitting on the main in Heavener, OK, 1/5/08.

The next morning after my eye exam at suburban Tahlequah (Keys, OK), we start for Shreveport, LA to pick up our grandson. The best route is along side of the KCS from Spiro, OK south on US59 and then US71. As we pass over the AOK (former RI) at Howe, OK, I noticed a southbound train on the KCS so we head to the north end of the Heavener, OK yard and catch this train with 2 Belles and a gray on the point and a Belle as DPU. Forgive any focus problems as my eyes were still partially dialated from my eye exam.