Looking like just another SD45 on Southern Pacific's large stable of 20 cylinder behemoths, this locomotive isn't what it seems. Delivered to Pennsylvania in January 1968 as SD45 6230, this was one of the last diesels delivered to PRR before Penn Central. After the merger this diesel became PC 6230 then Conrail 6230 in 1976. After retirement from Conrail this diesel went to work for Chicago & Northwestern as 6553 and received CNW yellow and green until being retired again. This locomotive was picked up by Morrison Knudsen, rebuilt and sent to Southern Pacific as SD40M-2 8652. After the UP merger 8652 became UP 2728 in full UP colors but was not in active service for long and soon afterward placed into long term storage. After being released by UP, this diesel spent several more years in storage and was then picked up by Missouri and Northern Arkansas and currently works as 2728 still in UP yellow. |