Between 1976 and 1980 the Missouri Pacific purchased 74 SD40-2's for use on unit coal trains. The obvious difference from the railroad's other SD40-2's was the dynamic brake housing, but the first 20 units - such as this one - were also equipped with a nose-mounted oscillating light so as to be compatible with D&RGW power. These 20 units were delivered as the 3216-3235, and then renumbered 6000-6019 in May 1978, while the other 54 coal units were delivered new as the 6020-6073. All of them became Union Pacific 3900-3973. |