There were two different U36Bs on the Seaboard Coast Line that carried the number "1776." The SCL's U36Bs were being delivered, and 1776:1 was already on the property when it was decided that for the upcoming American Bicentennial (the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence) a locomotive should be painted in a special scheme commemorating the historic event, and 1776 was the logical number to use. As a result, the railroad contacted GE and had upcoming U26B 1813 renumbered to 1776 (technically, SCL 1776:2) to be painted at GE's Erie, PA, factory in the special scheme, and the original 1776 (1776:1) was renumbered. SCL 1776:1, however, was interesting in its own right, as it was one of just a few SCL U36Bs delivered with the "Split Image" green and yellow nose logo (rather than the standard black and yellow logo). SCL 1776 was the first of what would become a mania on American railroads, in which almost all railroads painted at least one locomotive (or car) to celebrate America's 200th birthday. SCL 1776 was in Barstow, California - far from home — as power for a short train that included a pair of Santa Fe passenger cars (a steam generator car converted from an old smooth-side baggage car, and a display car converted from an old heavyweight car) and a Frisco wide-vision caboose (a home-built one), and all wore the same scheme as SCL 1776. The train operated from Richmond, California, to Richmond, Virginia across all three railroads to promote coast-to-coast freight service, if I remember correctly.
Displays of American pride, and spirit! Equipment painted Red, White, and Blue! With an honored salute and tribute to our veterans and troops added too! Patriots can still be found to join this gathering of Patriotic Pride!
Not
just heritage schemes, not just commemorative schemes - this album is devoted to some of the world's most interesting paint schemes, past or present.
