From time to time, some railroads get rid of surplus power, and other railroads pick up other roads' locomotives. In the 1980s, Illinois Central Gulf had excess GP38ACs and the Missouri-Kansas-Texas needed more Geeps. That, in a nutshell, is how ICG GP38AC 9505 (originally Illinois Central 9505) was acquired by the MKT, and quickly patched and renumbered to MKT 330. In July 1989, the MKT was merged with the Union Pacific, and this diesel acquired its fourth identity: UP GP38AC 1987. UP retired it in June 2001, and it was later sold to the Wisconsin Southern, becoming WSOR 3803. Note that the IC/ICG warning light between the numberboards has been removed, but the vertical headlight in the nose remains – unusual for the MKT! (Council Bluffs, Iowa – March 1, 1987) Paul F. De Luca Photograph, Craig Walker Collection
