Paducah Rebuilds

idSouth Rail began operations in 1986 with 58 locomotives, 50 of which were GP10 "Paducah Rebuilds." 46 such units came directly from Illinois Central Gulf with the purchase of the Meridian-Shreveport line and its branches, but another 4 units of the same type were purchased in 1988 from dealer National Railway Equipment. IC's extensive effort to rebuild its large GP7 and GP9 fleet was a pioneer, setting the example for other railroads for extensive capital rebuilding programs. Begun in 1968 and continued by successor Illinois Central Gulf until 1981, dozens of Geeps were rebuilt with similar features: increased horsepower, liberated exhaust, dynamic braking removed, paper air filters, chopped noses, various headlight configurations, and other modifications. Initially IC rebuilt from its own ranks for Geeps, but the success of the program prompted Paducah to seek secondhand Geeps on the open market and to contract out its rebuilding services to other railroads. Generally speaking, GP7 units became GP8s, and GP9s became GP10s. However, as the program progressed, frames, prime movers, and components were often intermixed in batches.

All 50 locomotives secured by MidSouth were rebuilt by Illinois Central's Paducah, Kentucky, shops between 1969 and 1973, and all had served successor ICG in road, branch, and yard service around the system. Most had been rebuilt from IC's batch of of GP9s, but a few of this 50 had been rebuilt from foreign Geeps. When MidSouth promptly repainted its fleet, painter Permathane renumbered them in a 1000 series based on the order in which they came in for a makeover. In 1988 when MidSouth acquired regional neighbor Gulf & Mississippi, another 35 Paducah GP10s were added to its fleet. Although GMSR had retained the previous ICG numbers on its locomotives, MidSouth began repainting these units and folding them into its 1000 series roster. Because MSRC managers liked the B-B road switcher fleet and wanted to standardize on the 567 prime mover, MidSouth eliminated other GMSR power (even newer models) that did not fit the fleet pattern.

By the time these 85+ Paducahs went to work for their new regional owner, most already had 15 years of service since rebuilding in the Kentucky shops and some 35 years or more since initial construction by EMD. Still, dipped in a their new corporate gray, lettered in a modern white font, and striped in a bisecting green line, MidSouth's Paducahs made a sharp impression on customers, crews, and railfans alike. That most of these MSRC motors found other owners after Kansas City Southern took over, and that many still operate today, is testimony both to the quality of Paducah's capital rebuild product and the execution of MidSouth's maintenance.