The Watco Companies Business Train using WSOR equipment is headed by #101, their covered wagon EMD E9, is rolling under a Santa Fe steam locomotive coaling tower on the K&O Great Bend Sub. after wying the consist west of here.
It's strange to think that diesel electrics have ruled this line for about 3/4 of a century now, and even this elderly cab unit has long been displaced from everyday revenue usage, yet this structure that powered the steam locomotives engines like this replaced (#101 turned 59 years old in April), is still standing strong.
When you think about it, steam engines were king until about 1950, which would have been this line's 78th year, so we're rapidly approaching a point in time that diesel power has been the propulsion technique of choice for a majority of railroading's existence in a lot of places.
Having said that, this coaling tower was built as part of the WWII effort, on the off chance that engines would be coaled here. The Santa Fe used oil burners out in these parts, and this tower never fueled a locomotive, nor was it ever filled with coal, other than for testing purposes.
In the transition era of railroading this was a normal sight, a streamlined diesel passing under a fueling apparatus for the equipment they replaced, however scenes like this today are very rare.
Locomotive: WSOR 101
4-30-15
Great Bend, KS
