Loco ID? (again)

Trains Magazine General Discussion
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I spotted another one of those snappy-looking purple-and-silver-painted “F40’s” this evening. (Like the one I asked about in this forum back in about July of this year.) It was the 4th unit behind 3 conventional UP GE’s and EMD’s heading southbound with a long train on the CSX (ex-B&OCT) tracks here on the SW side of Chicago. The train was passing the 95th Street grade crossing (at Rockwell Ave.) southbound at 6:40 PM CDT tonight (10/1/01), if that’s any help to anyone who could locate some information about that particular train and about that loco.
It’s sure an attractive color scheme of royal purple top and bottom, with a lengthwise silver stripe (with a bit of a zig-zag to it) at about “porthole” window height. It’s sort of reminiscent of the old Atlantic Coast Line or even the Boston/MBTA colors.
FYI, these tracks lead down to the CSX’s Barr yard in Riverdale, IL and connect (among other places) to the UP (ex C&EI/MP) at Dolton, IL, again if that’s any help to anyone in making some sort of identification. I’d sure like to know a bit more about these purple F40’s and why they’ve started turning up in freight runs here. Being as it was getting into twilight, and I was indoors at the time, I couldn’t really tell if this loco was actually loading or not, or whether it was just being towed along deadheaded at the front end of the train. Anybody have any inspired ideas???

Alan
Evergreen Park, IL

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Alan, the loco you saw was a Boise Locomotoive Works Rebuild. Thet are probably heading to I nelieve Boston (hence the purple. I say one of those (maybe the same one) at Boise in August of this year it was freshly painted and seemed to be ready to go. Glad to hear it made it out there. If you want any more info about what saw E-mail me at bn9900@yahoo.com.

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Thanx for the info! Makes a lotta sense in that context. Maybe the next time one passes through (hopefully), I’ll be able to get a bit better look to see if it’s carrying the appropriate lettering/reporting marks/unit #/etc. That’d sure help nail down the ID. I’ll be in e-mail touch in a few days. Thanks again!

Alan

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Alan, your welcome for the info. Say I used to live in La Grange (EMD FAME) Remember the BN Es?

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Sure, but mainly in their “golden years” incarnations as METRA power units. Prior to that, mostly through photo books like Don Ball’s collections, etc. I pass through La Grange/McCook on my daily commute to work, and occasionally pass the old plant on 55th Street. Depressing to see how little is left nowadays, and how many “cookie cutter” style warehouses and featureless buildings have sprouted up all around the site - in the name of “progress”, I suppose.

Alan