| The MP only had four SW1500's, and they spent their early years in the New Orleans area. When they were shopped and repainted in late 1981, they were also wired to operate with slugs; and three of them (1518, 1520, 1521) returned in October with brand-new slugs 1417-1419. In this view on a ready track at Avondale Yard, 1520, 1417, 1418 and 1518 wait between assignments. Their jobs included deliveries to other railroads at the east end of the Huey P. Long Bridge, pushing trains over the bridge, and transfer runs across the bridge to the MP's Race Street Yard -- a 17 mile trip. A set like this could pull a very heavy train across the bridge, with its 1.25% grades; but they were VERY, VERY slow. Before long, all of the slug sets were being used individually as yard power; mostly at Avondale, but occasionally at Race Street. They left in July 1982 and never returned! |