ABO NM July 6 1986 — Santa Fe C30-7 8146 leads a westbound mixed freight on approach to the New Mexico State Highway 55 overpass. GE built the 8146 (s/n 43573) in June 1981 as an RCE Locotrol II master with a roof-mounted air conditioner, 74:18 gearing and painted it in blue body with yellow warbonnet livery. Some time between before 1985 it was re-geared to 83:20. As part of the proposed merger of Santa Fe and Southern Pacific it was painted in SPSF livery consisting of red body, yellow warbonnet, black roof and black underframe some time between July 31 1985 and July 7 1986. It gained SPSF reporting marks but retained its 8146 number. It was retired in SPSF paint in December 1989. The unit was transferred to Burlington Northern Santa Fe on Sept 22 1995. On Oct 7 1998 it was renumbered BNSF 5189 still in its SPSF livery. In April 1999 the unit was Laid Up Pending Disposition in Pasco WA. Thank you to Josh Wagner for updating the unit’s history. He reports the unit “became MNNR 56 after being sold”. It was acquired by the Minnesota Commercial Railway in Illinois. The railroad serves St Paul and Minneapolis MN. It is considered a switching and terminal railroad. A photo taken by KJ Larson on August 24 2013 in Silvis IL shows it in red livery with white lettering. Corrections and/or additions welcome. My photo.
