Here's a fascinating one, unsigned, but dated Oct. 23, 1952. It was sent as the 200 series GP7s were entering freight and passenger serivce across the system and as the last of the T-2 Mallets were being retired:
"Alliance says Supt. there now intends to use 4106 on Crawford Hill, so will send tank car of oil to Crawford.
"Will take Geeps [the sender actually said jeeps] off #71 and #72, and use oil burners O-4, or O-3 if needed.
"Will use Geeps west of Alliance (have four Geeps available besides the two in passenger service -- 200, 203, 223, 238 and 239).
"Can get by this way without using any coal burners west of Alliance."
A follow-up letter the next day from C.E. Melker at Havelock to his boss, general superintendent of motive power H.H. Urbach in Chicago:
"For your information, it was necessary to take engine 4106 out of white lead at Edgemont yesterday and will be placed in service as helper engine on Crawford Hill, account heavy business Alliance Division.
"Also engine 4108 was removed from serviceable list, account now due for lagging and engine is set aside unserviceable."
All for today.
Hol
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