The GN power mentioned was always on #'s 97 and 88.
This was the result of an agreement whereby Q E units would run through to
Havre, MT. on #31 rather than change engines at St. Paul. In
exchange, #88 would continue on to Clyde with GN "power" that would
turn and become 97's "power" the next day, or as soon as Clyde Diesel
shop could resuscitate them.
This was the classic JUNK power of the decade !!! Few trips
on either train were completed without at least one catastrophic engine
failure and, usually, MORE than one. On one memorable trip Charlie Wright
and Art Krahn were commin' over So. River St. on 88 when everything went ta
*****. Seems the pilot of their lead unit "fell off" the engine
and they, of course, ran over it. While runnin' over the pilot they fell
off the tracks and nearly ended up in the river. Some readers may
remember a massive derailment that resulted in freight cars hangin' off the
bridge over River St. and cattle roamin' the streets on the south end of
Aurora. The stock cars were supposed to be set out on the Sheep Yard lead
but never quite made it.
These "exchange" units remained on 88/97 'till the boys
at Clyde got 'em runnin' again. When that happened they were replaced
with a different bunch of units that were in the same shape as the previous
set. I have had sets of these beasts on one of those two trains that had
units that had blown up but were left in the consist for months. Rusty,
oil covered walkways, piles of sand in the engine room and inspection covers
everywhere. THESE were the GN engines we had to put up with in the
60's.
I hope this helps explain the presence of GN units in the 60's
Chuck.
Karl