BI-Centennial Locomotive (1 Viewer)

[Leadmen]

I know I am showing my "old age" by posting a couple pictures of the bi-centennial locomotive from 1976. The locomotive won a national award for best painted that year.

This was me in door getting ready to take out the "Santa Claus" train. I donated my time to take the yearly Christmas train from Chicago to Port Huron Michigan. We used the newly painted locomotive and stoped all along the way at stations and other terminals where the railroad employees children would visit Santa Claus and get gifts. That year it was mild weather. John

 

[Leadmen]

Here is a side picture. Notice locomotive number changed to "1776". The Santa train had no delays and plenty of officials and helpers riding it. John

 

[sceic2]

Hay, I remember seeing that engine in '76. Is it a GP-38? I can not remember.
It did have a great visual effect, you could see that thing a mile away. I still go to the tracks in town, we are on one of the BNSF routes to the Northwest, and watch the locomotives. Every once and a while an old one will come through. They have gone to all GE on this particular part of the system. We only get unit coal and grain trains with a general cargo occasionally. All the newer stuff goes north on another line to the east.

 

[Leadmen]

Yes Michael, that is the 2000HP GP-38. Nowadays they use 3500 HP or more. We shipped a lot of automotive products and we better use GM locomotives. I think GE had a better product and more quiet. I think electromotive is done. Don't know for sure. Leadmen

 

[kilted vampire]

Gotta love those GPs. Still love the GP9s the best. High Hood fan. And also love when the NW ran long hood forward!