According to Lou Marre's Frisco Diesel Power, a few Frisco GP7s found their way to the Illinois central Gulf (ICG) by way of Precision National Corporation in the early 1970s. However, all appear to have been renumbered in the 7700 series, presumably after rebuilding at Paducah, KY. I do not know if this is a rare view, but I have never seen another like it. GS
That bent steam exhaust stack makes me think that was the GP7 SLSF 618. I think I recall the SLSF 618 having a slightly smashed steam exhaust on the front side of steam exhaust stack.
The locomotive is former GP7 SLSF 615. The locomotive was manufactured by General Motors (GM) Electro-Motive Division (EMD) at its Plant 3 in Cleveland, OH. Its builder number was 15582. It was received by the Frisco on 1/19/1952. The locomotive was a dual service freight and passenger service unit. It was equipped with a steam generator. The Frisco ordered 52 of its 128 GP7s (40.6%) with steam generators. The units so equipped had one (1) steam generator with a capacity of 2,500 pounds per hour. This locomotive was involved in a derailment shortly after delivery and was remanufactured by EMD at La Grange, IL. It was shipped from there during March 1953. It was retired by the Frisco and sold on 2/3/1975 to Precision National Corporation (PNC). In this image the locomotive is in service on the Illinois Central Gulf (ICG) at Meridian, MS. Photograph dated 2/8/1976. Charles Conniff slide. Locomotive operated for a short time as GP7 ICG 70. It would be rebuilt by the railroad at Paducah, KY as an ICG GP8. It was released in September 1976, renumbered as ICG 7732. It was retired again on 8/24/1992. It was scrapped by Steel Processing. Hope this helps. Thanks! Mark
If that is indeed SLSF 615, then that makes two Frisco GP7s that took a wallop to the steam generator stack. Number SLSF 618 was the other. The above cloudy day photo taken by me a long time ago (1976?) at Van Buren, AR. Andre
