Bob Anderson sends along this oddity, and his caption pretty much tells the
story. It was just ten years ago that the brand new GP60M's introduced both safety
cabs and ditchlights to the Santa Fe system, and helped to reintroduced the red and silver
warbonnet. But, time takes its toll, and newer locomotives take over the priority runs, bumping
older units down the pecking order. Now, instead of trailers on flatcars, it's ties on
flatcars for BNSF 100.
Unfortunately, those safety cabs with their desktop controls are less than ideal for locals and
switch jobs. The controls are hard to use while looking backward, and it's difficult to see a
crew member standing in the front stepwell. One is reminded of Santa Fe's first 100-class diesels,
the FT's, and how several were given backup headlights and awkward footboards and sent out as
switchers and local power. At least BNSF 100's crew doesn't have a full-width carbody and stirrup
steps to contend with...
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