The First Bicentennial Unit
I believe Seaboard Coast Line 1776 was the first diesel locomotive to be adorned with the nation's bicentennial in mind. The unit is a General Electric U36B built in June of 1971.
I was traveling with some rail enthusiasts through Evansville, Indiana, when we just happened upon it, if memory serves after 50 years.
In these images, the locomotive is first seen moving eastward on Division Street. As it turned off that intriguing section, it paused for whatever reason—perhaps for the benefit of a car load of rail buffs chasing it (see third photograph).
Recently I did some poking around via various Facebook groups and learned that the man running the locomotive is Mr. Troy Lee King, Road Foreman of Engines. I believe he worked for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad upon which the locomotive is seen running.
In any case, the engine continued running northward, now on the former Chicago & Eastern Illinois—this portion of which was folded into the L&N in 1970. We were able to catch up with it again at Wansford Yard north of Evansville where the remainder of the images were made (again, confirmed by employees of the railroad via FB).
I imagine there will be several articles next year that will highlight all the bicentennial locomotives that ran around back in 1976 as nearly every railroad felt it was good practice at the time.
Seven images by Richard Koenig; taken March 28th 1976.
