Description
Take a stroll down memory lane as we look back at the history and evolution of Escanaba & Lake Superior (E&LS) #502!
ELS 502 is a classic EMD SD40-2 diesel-electric locomotive with an incredible history. It was originally built for the Union Pacific Railroad as UP 3693, later operating under Independent Locomotive Service as ILSX 1344. For years, it was a familiar and beloved sight leasing on the E&LS until the railroad permanently purchased the unit around 2019, giving it the ELS 502 designation it wears today.
This video tribute features a compilation of vintage clips starting all the way back in 2015, back when it was still a leased unit working hard alongside two other locomotives that have since gone long out of service. Following its journey into the early 2020s, this compilation captures the sights and sounds of a true shortline favorite.
As we look back at its active years rolling through Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Wisconsin, we hope to see ELS 502 back in service again soon here in 2026!
If you enjoyed this look back at E&LS history, please give the video a like, leave a comment with your favorite memory of this locomotive, and subscribe for more railfanning content!
#ELS502 #ILSX1344 #SD402 #Railfanning #ShortlineRailroads #EMD #Trains #UnionPacific #EscanabaAndLakeSuperior
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