Union Pacific SD70M 1616, the newly painted Abrahan Lincoln unit, has a striking resemblance to a Southern Pacific SD70M, especially the top gray. You don’t suppose UP’s CEO Vena is thinking of cheaply sprucing up the deplorable UP fleet with SP gray?
The paint scheme is supposed to be based on 4-4-0 UP 119:
Looks pretty close:
And as much as I’d love to see the Espee speed lettering scheme make a comeback, I can’t see UP ever doing it.
Here’s a better photo of UP 1616 sitting outside the shops at North Little Rock, Arkansas:
https://www.reddit.com/r/trains/comments/1kbtaha/union_pacific_1616_unveiled/
Came through Marion last night; I think it’s on its way to Springfield…
I’ve read that its headed to a National Train Day event in Portland on May 10th. Saw some photos on flickr taken south of Dupo, IL. Train symbol was ZMNNP (High priority intermodal, Marion, AR - North Platte, NE).
I saw somewhere it’s the former 4015.
Looking at the photos, the gray on the 1616 seems darker than Espee gray. In my opinion the resemblance to Espee locos goes about as far as the color choices (minus the dark red).
Maybe a heritage unit in the future?