Bicentennial Locomotives

[tims]

How long after 1976 did bicentennial locomotives remain in service before being repainted? Could you still find a bicentennial locomotive in say 77 or 78? Thank you in advance for any insight you might provide.

[skytop35]

I don't have exact dates but I think it is safe to say that the railroads did not repaint those units back into regular paint on January 1st, 1977. So seeing bicentennial units into 1977 or 1978 isn't a stretch at all.

[fredmoehrle]

I think the DTI lasted until 1978.
I saw some BN units in 1978.
Fred

[tims]

Thank you for the replies. The time period for my railroad is 76 - 79. I describe it as a regional trying to act as a class I on a shortline budget. So repainting it would not be high on the priority list. I just wanted to make sure that Bicentennial locmotives were not like Christmas music that raido sations stop playing on December 26th.

When I get around to painting one, I'll post a pic.

[c415rock]

Hi tims,

Here are some dates that I can confirm for you.

BN SD40-2 late Jan 79 & U30C June 79 & SDP40 Jan 79
D&TSL GP7 June 83
EL/CR SDP45 June of 79 was still in Bi Centennial paint
D&H RS3m March 1988 this unit was retired in this paint and still wears it in upstate PA

Hope this helps. If you have a question about a particular unit just ask me and I can go through my Bi Centennial stuff and let you know what is the latest date for it in paint.

Erik

[onequiknova]

Rock Islands E8 652 lasted in it's bicentennial paint until the shut down of the railroad in 3/80. Of coarse the RI was in financial ruin since before 1976, so it's no surprise it wasn't repainted.

Here it is in 1984, sitting derelict, still in red white and blue.

www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2437878