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FWWR 1500 at Grapevine TX Southwest Shorts - home of the most extensive Ft 
Worth and Western pages on the 'net! The FWWR at speed - Cresson, TX

Ft. Worth & Western - Blue & Yellow

Click here to go directly to the photos.

The early days of FWWR saw its first two diesels -- CF7 2473 and GP7 4299 -- painted in a navy blue paint scheme. After the 2473 departed the roster, the 4299 received a fresh coat of paint, becoming the first locomotive to display what is FWWR's current blue-and-yellow paint scheme.

Soon afterward, GP7 1500 which arrived on FWWR property in a blue and gray VMV / "Paducabilt" scheme, was also repainted in blue and yellow. When FWWR acquired the ex-ATSF Dublin Sub from South Orient in 1999, additional power was needed to help the railroad keep freight moving on its greatly expanded territory. After leasing numerous locomotives from a variety of sources on a short-term basis (See my Visitors to FWWR page), FWWR took delivery of three ex-CP GP35s -- #s 5004, 5007, and 5020.

Today, a total of five locomotives wear FWWR's blue-and-yellow dress: GP7s 1500 and 4299, and GP35s 5004, 5007, and 5020. FWWR's other diesels, South Orient GP7s 101 - 106, have not been repainted, and their poor mechanical condition makes them unlikely candidates for new paint jobs. FWWR has also experienced recent mechanical trouble with its other locomotives -- the two GP7s and three GP35s, forcing the road to once again shop for power. Two ex-CKRY GP38-3s arrived in August, with additional power reportedly on the way. Some of the existing power will likely be departing FWWR property as "traders" for the new stuff. Stay tuned...

Presented below are 12 images featuring locomotives dressed in FWWR's blue and yellow scheme.

Please click on any of the following pictures to see a larger image:

  FWWR logo on GP7 1500 Here's a close-up view of the Ft Worth & Western logo displayed on the long hood of GP7 1500. Photographed in Grapevine, TX on February 20, 2000.
  FWWR 4299 - Ft Worth TX Ft Worth & Western GP7 4299 display's FWWR's blue and yellow paint scheme at NE 23rd St near the Ft Worth Stockyards on October 23, 1999.
  FWWR 1500 at Long Ave. Ft  Worth Ft Worth & Western GP7 1500 leads a four-car eastbound train at Long Avenue in north Ft Worth on December 18, 1997. The train is traversing ex-Cotton Belt trackage between Tower 60 and FWWR's Hodge Yard; the trackage to the right is BNSF's Wichita Falls Sub between the former BN North Yard and Tower 60.
  FWWR 1500 on Tarantula train, Grapevine, TX On February 20, 2000, FWWR 1500 shoves a Tarantula passenger train past one of the "Bondo Flyer" F7s toward the old Cotton Belt depot in Grapevine, TX.
  FWWR 1500 - Grapevine, TX A Ft Worth & Western engineer awaits clearance to depart the depot at Grapevine, TX with a Tarantula passenger train on February 20, 2000.
  FWWR service tracks at Hodge - N. Ft. Worth When Ft Worth & Western acquired South Orient trackage between Ft Worth and Ricker (near Brownwood) -- the former AT&SF Dublin Sub -- the railroad once again went shopping for motive power. In May 1999, three ex-CP GP35s arrived on FWWR property. In this June 10, 1999 shot, the three 5000's are shown idling on the service tracks at FWWR's Hodge Yard in north Ft Worth.
  FWWR westbound at 8th Avenue - Ft. Worth FWWR 5004 is on a westbound train at FWWR's 8th Avenue yard in Ft Worth on June 16, 1999. That's the Ft. Worth skyline in the background.
  FWWR 5004 at Belt Jct - Ft Worth FWWR 5004 is on BNSF trackage at Belt Jct in Ft Worth on June 16, 1999. Due to a derailment on the FWWR, the 5004 had to run light over BNSF between North Ft Worth and Belt Jct via Tower 55 and Birds siding to access the south end of FWWR's 8th Avenue yard.
  FWWR westbound - Cresson, TX Having just been delivered to the FWWR, three GP35s lead a westbound train at Cresson, Texas (on the former ATSF Dublin Sub) on May 19, 1999. Due to mechanical trouble on two of the locomotives, the crew had to reduce their train at Cresson in order to get over the road without stalling. In this shot, they are setting out some of their cars to one of the storage tracks at Cresson.
  FWWR westbound - Cresson, TX Newly delivered, but suffering numerous mechanical ailments, FWWR's ex - Canadian Pacific GP35s set out some cars at Cresson , TX to result in a more manageable train size. Date of photograph: May 19, 1999.
  FWWR westbound - Cresson, TX Having completed a set out at Cresson, TX, the three FWWR GP35s have returned to their train and accelerate out of town on May 19, 1999.
  FWWR at speed -  Cresson, TX After reducing its train at Cresson, FWWR 5004 is able to make track speed as it accelerates out of town on May 19, 1999. "Pace" vehicle driven by Joe Brice, who wisely suggested that I try some "pan" shots. Out of about ten frames, this was the one that turned out the best.

Back to the Ft. Worth & Western index

"Old School" FWWR  FWWR 2248
The Bondo Flyer   Visitors to FWWR
Southwest Shorts - home

All images on Wes Carr's Southwest Shorts © 2000 by Wes Carr. All rights reserved.
Wes Carr claims no affiliation with the Ft. Worth & Western or any other shortline railroad.

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