Nostalgia & History > Coal engines lost.

The MP bought about 60 or more SD-40-2 to run coal trains in and out of Colorado on the Rio Grande. Rio Grande required the engines be equipped with dynamic brakes and originally (I think) gyra-lights since the first twenty units had them although the others did not.
Here in the late 1970's we see two of them the 6042 and 6050 on an long train coming in to Tower 55 from Dallas. They are in the process of swinging north to tie up for a crew change on the old TC Division of the T&P.

As several have lamented on the years, we used to have no problems hanging around T55 and taking all the pictures we wanted to. Not so today.

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Love those "Screamin Eagles". Bet Photoshop could help those nice shots. Thanks for sharing.

Kent in CArmel Valley

How was it meant that these units were 'lost' ??

I thought these motors were built to BN specs?

Regards,
Burlington John

They were in Ft Worth, not hauling coal out of Colorado.

MP 6062 at Mt Vernon Illinois, June 1981. Pretty sure it was built to BN specs ....

Regards,
Burlington John

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As I understand it, the first batch of these units were built to Rio Grande
specs for a coal train off the Craig Branch. The second batch were built to
BN specs for a Wyoming coal train. They were renumbered into the 3900 series
by the UP, which is now occupied by SD70M's. How many are still left on the UP?

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA

If I remember correctly the 6010-6019 were returned to the lessor even though they had been painted into UP colors. Don't know about the others.