Gulf Mobile & Ohio railroad F3A in Chicago, 1972

This engine with road number 883A was built in June 1947 by General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD) as a 1,500-horsepower cab unit -- the classic "chicken wire" mesh screens covering the upper side radiators was a signature styling element of early-production F3 units. The pic was taken from the Roosevelt Street bridge of The Plug commuter service between Chicago Union Station and Joliet Union Station, Illinois.

The loco was retained by the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio (and later the Illinois Central Gulf) alongside its stablemate 880B because it was equipped with an internal steam generator, which was required to provide heat to the vintage passenger cars seen behind it.

The Gulf, Mobile and Ohio was officially taken over on 10 August 1972.when it merged with its long-time parallel competitor, the Illinois Central, to form a new 9,600-mile system known as the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad (ICG).