Southern Pacific owned sixty-eight U25B locomotives, and by the mid-1970s some of them were beginning to show up in deadlines. SP had been rebuilding many of their older locomotives, such as GP9s and SD9s, at their locomotive shop in Sacramento and the railroad began to consider other locomotives that could be rebuilt. SP U25B 6708 (originally SP 7508) was pulled from a string of retired engines to go through the shops and receive the same treatment: a new prime mover, new electrical cabinet, new main generator, rewound traction motors, refurbished trucks, new wiring and a new control stand. Some body modifications were made as well, with the long-hood receiving new doors allowing easier access to the internal components for improved ease of maintenance. As with other locomotives going through the rebuilding projects in Sacramento, this locomotive was released with a new number, 6800, and a new model designation, U25BE (“E” signifying an Electrical upgrade). Released in 1975, SP 6800 was also chosen to wear a new Bicentennial paint job as well, joining SP’s other Bicentennial units (SSW SD45T-2 9389 and SP GP40P-2 3197), but with a US Savings Bond logo rather than the Liberty Bell decal applied to the other two.
The U25BE rebuild program, however, stopped at just two locomotives, with concerns cited regarding parts availability and pricing, part interchangeability issues and reliability problems with the first two engines to go through the rebuilding program – although SP 6800 and 6801 operated well once on the road. SP later renumbered their two U25BEs 3100 and 3101, with 6800 losing its special red, white and blue paint job in the process of becoming SP 3100. This engine survives today, having been donated to Perris, California’s Orange Empire Railway Museum (now the Southern California Railway Museum), which restored it to operating condition and applied new paint as well. (City of Industry, California – July 28, 1978)
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!
