In the 1970s, the Southern Pacific railroad was predictably unpredictable – One never knew what one might find when railfanning the SP. And it got even more interesting for a few years when the SP borrowed some Burlington Northern Locotrol-equipped SD40-2s and Remote Receiver Cars (built out of former F7Bs) in order to test this technology. On a late summer day in 1977 an interesting consist of locomotives was found in the SP’s West Colton Yard: BN SD40-2 6806 (ex-BN 6346), SP U50 9952 (ex-SP 9952, née-SP 8502) and SP U25B 6746 (ex-SP 7546). Just another day on "The Friendly Espee"! (Colton, California – August 31, 1977)
