>The GP35 is ex DMVW 324

I spent many hours on that #$!&@*$#@*&$ P.O.S.

After being laid off by M-K, I was hired by DMVW as a second mechanic. The first few weeks there involved determining that 324 had grounded its main gen outside of Wishek. It was shipped to parent company MNVA's shop and got another gen. I think DMVW had 2 or 3 of these down there.

I ended up on another DMVW division as an engineer. 324 went back to Wishek, and a short time later blew the turbo. Back to MNVA it went where they used JUNK parts from a burned up engine to "rebuild" 324 with roots blowers.

In the meantime, we only had one ongine for the summer and were getting overwhelmed when grain started moving that fall. MNVA shipped us the 324, which the FRA promptly wrote up at the interchange for being covered in oil. Too bad they didn't notice the blue card, it was dead on its 92 day. On my first trip with loads back to the interchange, 324 died due to a low oil trip and would not stay running. After a four way phone call at the elevator between me, our mechanic, our GM and MNVA, we finally convinced MNVA that a too high oil level and the smell of diesel in the lube oil was a bad thing. We doubled to the interchange from there.

We had three locos for the next year or so - 324, 1888 (xNP GP9) and 321 (xCBQ deturbo GP20). We always ran 324 as the rear unit if we could. While the other two would pull 900-1000 amps, 324 would be pulling around 800 and getting a wheel slip indication at that. Winter was real fun, leaving engines idling or in Run 3 - the 324 would coat everything within 50 feet with oil. I really liked when they told us we couldn't trow sand on the deck to remove the slipping hazard. (Carb cleaner still works below zero for the handrails.)

On Halloween of 1999 (years after I left), DMVW started a prairie fire. (One of many, I started my share when I was there.) They ran the train into Outlook and parked the power next to the depot (last one standing, was being restored by the town). The winds gusted to 60 mph, burned almost the entire town to the ground, the burning two-story depot collapsed on the lead unit (xSP GP35). Also burn up several miles of track, a trestle, and a huge pile of new ties. I don't remember if it was from a photo or the engineer told me, but I recall that 324 was the second unit. Care to guess which unit probably started the fire?

I have run a GP28, which was a good unit. There are engines I swear by, and those I swear at.

Don't let 324 go trick or treating!!!!