Other Motive Power

idSouth began operations in 1986 with 56 locomotives, nearly all of them included in the purchase price from Illinois Central Gulf. Some 80% of the fleet (46 units) were Paducah-rebuilt GP10s, but the lot also included 4 less-common EMD GP18 models. Electro-Motive only fulfilled 350 domestic orders in this series, with Illinois Central adding 29 examples to its rosters (9400–9428) in the early 1960s. This small group survived through the Illinois Central Gulf merger and most were never upgraded in a capital rebuild program — although two of the units would be rebuilt into GP10 models at Paducah and renumbered. Three of the four MidSouth Geep 18s carried factory-applied angled low noses common on EMD's subsequent GP20 model, but the fourth MidSouth unit (#1804, 3 years older than the others) sported the classic Geep high nose. Indicating both their model and horsepower, MidSouth numbered them in the small 1800 series.

hroughout the 1980s, several regionals and many shortlines were developed from lines spun-off from the "rationalization" of the Illinois Central Gulf system. MidSouth would prove to be the sterling example of a successful regional. At the same time, the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe system began selling off its large fleet of nearly 250 home-built CF7 road switchers it had produced from its Cleburne, Texas, shops. As such, the unique looking CF7 model began appearing on the rosters of many carriers large and small, especially in the South. MidSouth, too, took advantage of their quick availability, low cost, and reliability. 15 of the type were added to MidSouth's locomotive fleet in 1987-88, all repainted into the regional's attractive gray scheme and all renumbered into a new 7000-series block. Most of these units had been rebuilt by ATSF from retired F7 motors, but 3 examples bore the hardware from less-common (for ATSF, at least) F3 and F9 originals. After the purchase of the Gulf & Mississippi and development of SouthRail, most of the MidSouth CF7s were assigned to trains on former GMSR routes in Mississippi. When MidSouth was purchased, new owner Kansas City Southern divested most of 7000-series to shortlines, leasers, and dealers.

llinois Central famously broke from its venerable tradition of steam locomotives with a major order of Electro-Motive's standard GP9 model. The Green Diamond used their Geeps in freight and passenger service alike. Although IC and successor Illinois Central Gulf would later rebuild many of its GP9 in capital rebuild programs based in Paducah, Kentucky, not all Geep 9s on the ICG roster received the upgrades. MidSouth rostered 8 such standard GP9s, all of which retained their factory high hoods by avoiding rebuilding. Built between 1954-58, these units were plucked non-sequentially from the large Illinois Central roster. Painted in the regional's gray scheme and numbered in a 9000 series, on MidSouth they were often seen within mainline power lashups in trailing positions (although one leads in an example below). At least three in the small series were knocked out of power circulation early: 9006 was wrecked at Morton, Mississippi, in 1987; 9007 suffered a failed prime mover; and 9008 was sidelined by a failed main generator. With the KCS takeover of MidSouth, most of the remaining GP9s were sold off to shortline operators.