I remember asking Mr. O. H. Summers, Frisco's Chief Mechanical Officer - Motive Power (CMO-MP), if they were considering obtaining any C-C U-Boats. In a previous conversation he had said they were fairly happy with the B-B U30Bs they had. He explained that they were not, as the C-C U-Boats were great heavy tonnage "lugers", which was not a particular need the Frisco had at that time. They liked the high horsepower SD45s mainly for their speed, not their heavy tonnage abilities. General Electric's were better at the slow, heavy stuff. But, later on, the Frisco did get the SD40-2s, initially for coal train service. Would have been neat to see, and hear, a gaggle of U30Cs chugging up Iron Hill though! Ken
Music to my ears was switching for John Santa Fe in the old East Dallas Yard, now a DART facility. I enjoyed witnessing a trio of Frisco SD45s working up grade into our yard from the Trinity River Bottoms. They would pull a train of Oklahoma coal destined for Lone Star Steel in East Texas. The rails were well sanded! Item: The local Frisco interchange from Irving still sported a wooden hack with kerosene markers. Great 1970s railfanning! GE U30Cs on the same train really would have put on a show at that! Joe Toth The Trinity River Bottoms Boomer
