| MILW SD10 551 at Ottumwa, Iowa on March 1, 1982, photo by Ken Kessler, Chuck Zeiler collection. This locomotive was built as MILW SD9 2228 in January 1954 (c/n 18773) on EMD Order 5287. It was later renumbered MILW SD9 534, classed as 17.5-ERS-6. It was one of four SD9's (plus 17 SD7's) rebuilt into SD10's (class 18-ERS-6) starting in 1974. The SD10 program involved a rebuilt Model 567BC prime mover, now rated at 1850 hp, rewiring, a chopped short hood, in this case, a Horst air filter (the duct on the roof behind the cab), 26L brake system, and relocating the air reservoirs. Eventually this unit became DME 551. |