When buying trains for his collection,

He aimed in certain directions…

He took great pains

Finding oddball trains,

Delighting him in their inspection!

–

A little like him they are,

Interesting shapes and parts…

Characters like him

Respond to whim,

An oddball becomes his star!

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The ALCO RSD-four or five,

Worked good for heavy-hauling drive…

Six wheels each truck

Earned more than good luck,

They kept tonnage going, climb or dive!

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This particular unit he doesn’t have,

There ARE LIMITS to what one can grab…

But pictures show

Why that railroad would go,

With an oddball–extra traction, rails to grab!

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That high-looking “stick” so grand,

Is an extra-high fill for traction sand…

Blown on the rails,

Better traction it avails,

One of the reasons they survived in Iron Ore land!

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–Jonathan Caswell