| Southern Pacific GP35 6566 - still wearing SPSF colors - was switching the Lou-Ana Foods vegetable oil processing plant in Opelousas, Louisiana. This train had originated in Lafayette, which was just 20 miles south of here via the railroad's ALEXANDRIA BRANCH; but because of a partially-collapsed trestle on that line, it had to make a 61-mile detour. It headed west from Lafayette over the SUNSET ROUTE 19 miles to Crowley, then north on the Union Pacific's CROWLEY SUBDIVISION 22 miles to Eunice, and then east over the UP's BEAUMONT SUBDIVISION main line 20 miles. Espee officially abandoned its line between Lafayette and Opelousas three years after this photo was taken. |