Right now, UP 1983 is working as a DPU Unit on a Cahokia Marine Coal train bound for Sauget, Illinois…Is this the first time a Heritage unit has been used as a DPU on a coal train???
First time? Probably not. Other than the “value” that “foamers” and PR types would put on htis particular locomotive, it’s just another piece of power.
Assuming it’s a loaded coal train, that engine is going to get itself really dirty [xx(]