Let's see... July 11, 1964, to July 11, 2003.  Let's see... I count that as 39 years, give or take a day or so.  So imagine my joy, shock, amazement and utter consternation when on the afternoon of July 11, 2003, in the hot 105 degree sun just west of Ludlow, on BNSF's busy Needles Subdivision,  I spotted a lash-up which contained the following units:

* AT&SF #4227 GE B23-7, unknown built-date, but mid-1960's vintage, on the point, leading the train

* AT&SF #2614 EMD GP-35, built in 1964

* BN #2830 EMD GP-30, built in 1962

By golly, these units were in revenue service when the Beatles invaded the United States, and Tammy Wynette hadn't even sang "Stand By Your Man" to every Country Music fan on the planet.  Wow!  I was still in grade school when the first of these units started workin' for the railroad!  Railfanning BNSF's Needles Subdivision will provide many amazing sights, both natural and man-made.

Now keep in mind that this train was somewhat dubious, as it was heading west, pulling a train that consisted of empty spline cars, nearly a mile long.  That being said, how often to you see vintage power, pulling cars in quasi-revenue action, along one of the busiest railroad main lines on the North American continent.  This is not something that you see every day, and if your father was railfainning with you, it is a sight that would certainly put a grin to his face.

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