Resurgence of Short-line railroading across North America has grown appreciably during the past two decades, and it has been fun to observe. Conservely, there has also been the demise of several popular short lines. The most notable among them, perhaps for some fans, was the Transkentucky Transportation Inc., more commonly referred to as TTI. The northeast Kentucky- based railroad, which began in 1979 by hauling coal from Paris to Maysville (a distance of approximately 50 miles) was a favorite of many photographers because of its bucolic setting and its all-General Electric-built road power.

The company's fleet of high-horsepower GEs added color and excitement to the Blue Grass State's landscape as the four-axle freight motors, with their heavy tonnage, rolled efficiently between the yard in Paris and the railroad's Ohio River transload facility. The familiar cadence of FDL engines announced their approach and caused people of all ages to pause briefly to watch as a quartet of colorful GE's glided through small towns and valleys. Their coming and going left an indelible image for fan, as well as causal observer.

In the railroad's early days, its locomotive stable consisted of several U28B cast-offs from eastern and midwestern class 1 railroads, a lone Baldwin-built switcher, and a small number of modified Alco RS3s (GP12s). While GE power ruled main-line coal traffic, Alco, Baldwin and EMD-driven power routinely handled yard and transfer assignments. Its unclear whether or not the railroad's original blue and silver livery was reflective of a north-south heritage. The classic image above is evidence that the colorful railroad's exit from the coal-hauling business in 2017 came much too early. (Don Kalkman photo at N. Millersburg, Kentucky on 9 Augyst 2009).

VO-1000 #9 (BLW 71525 b/d 9/45)

The railroad's lone Baldwin was built as U.S. Navy #36 (65-00203). The four-axle switcher worked the Cheatham Naval Supply Center in Virginia for many years, prior to entering service on the TTI ownership. (Bruce Gage photo at Paris, Kentucky on 28 August 1991.)

RS3m #1075 (Alco 80764 b/d 1/55)

The 1200-hp #1075 was one of three ex-Missouri Pacific RS3s on the TTI roster that had been re-powered with an EMD V12-567 prime mover (during the early 1960s) and re-number from #4507. (Paris, Kentucky photo in 1985 by Dan Tracy photo / Andy Puch collection).

U28B #245 (GE 35864 b/d 2/66)

Ex-Rock Island #245 was one of seven U28Bs reconditioned prior to being delivered in 1979 to new owner TTI. The 2800-hp road unit was leased during 1991 to Beech Grove Coal Processing as seen here. (R. Craig photo at Beech Grove, Tennesse on 4 September 1991).

U28B #257 (GE 36103 b/d 10/66)

The TTI roster included 14 U28Bs from P&LE and Rock that featured the old U25B carbody, and six pug-nose U28Bs from BN. The #257 was built as CB&Q #108; it later became BN 5452. (Geoff Elliott photo at Paris, Kentucky on 26 April 1995.

U28B #260 (GE 36118 b/d 12/66)

Sporting another of TTI's different paint schemes, U28B #260 works the transload facility at Maysville, KY. Built as CB&Q #114 in Chinese red and white colors, the loco once carried BN's Cascade green. (Terry Redeker photo on 30 August 2011).

U36B #5763 (GE 37809 b/d 8/71)

TTI's impressive squadron of U36Bs & B36-7s were hand-me-downs from parent CSX (nee SCL & SBD respectively). In this Eastern Kentucky action scene. U36B #5763 leads a northbound coal drag towards the trans-loading facilities in Maysville. (Don Kalkman on 25 April 2011).

B36-7 #5827 (GE 44380 b/d 3/85)

Patriotic appearing #5827 (ex-CSX 5827) in a unique blue/red/white scheme stands ready to lead an empty coal train back to Paris, Kentucky on 8 April 2010. (Brian Carlson photo)

B36-7 (GE 45000 b/d 8/85)

Led by B36-7 #5911, a brace of GEs in the matching blue/white/silver corporate colors of TTI slow to a crawl as they approach their final destination along the winding Ohio River. (Kyle Yunker photo at Maysville on 10 October 2015).

Abbreviations:

• BN - Burlington Northern
• CB&Q - Chicago Burlington & Quincy
• P&LE - Pittsburg & Lake Erie
• SCL - Seaboard Coast Line
• SBD - Seaboard System

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