And Now For Something Completely Different

[FCIN]

Was going through my slide collection the other day and found a shot I took in 1980 at Shamrock Coal in Manchester, Kentucky. This "Critter" was rebuilt from an ALCo S-2 with a Caterpillar engine and is certainly different. Note the operators cab built into the step well, in addition to the narrow rebuilt cab, only slightly wider than the engine hood. Also note the friction bearings have been replaced with roller bearings in the trucks. Would make for an interesting kit-bash huh? I'm sorry now that I didn't photograph this little beast from all angles. Don't know what happened to her after the mine closed.
    Shamrock Coal operated unit trains on the L&N (with L&N crews of course) and had their own SD40-2's (built to L&N specs), rotary dump gons and cabs lettered Oneida & Western. You've probably run across photos of the SD40-2's. If not, here's a link to a photo of three of their units: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.ph...523&nseq=6