Engines 4340 and 4311 rest near Kern Jct., CA on December 4, 1985. Both were built by EMD in 1954 as SD9s with original numbers 5350 and 5373 and renumbered in 1965 to 3803 and 3851. They were rebuilt in 1970 and became 4311 and 4340. About 60 of these engines worked in the Tehachapi Freight Pool for years. They were smooth riding and good luggers. I got my first cab ride on engine 5463 in 1962. From 1961 to 1965, they worked with 20 Alco RSD12s. New power came to the Tehachapi Freight Pool in 1964 in the form of EMD SD35s, replacing the Alcos. After the Colton Cutoff was completed in July 1967, more changes came to the power operating over the Tehachapi Mountains. The Tehachapi Freight Pool was abolished and power operated from Roseville all the way to El Paso. The SD9s were bumped off the through freights and worked primarily on locals. It is interesting that many of them out lived the GE U33Cs that had bumped them off the through freights. I miss these old veterans.

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EUASY Bena, CA