| MP GP40 633 at Cotter, Arkansas on May 6, 1989, photo by Chuck Zeiler. This locomotive has an interesting history. The MP never owned GP40, and neither did the Rock Island, but this is a picture of a former Rock GP40 in MP-UP paint. Missouri Pacific 633 was built as CRI&P GP40 4702 in March 1970 (c/n 36388). As part of a planned 1966 merger, the UP purchased GP40's in a couple of groups and leased them to the Rock. When the Rock shut down in 1980, the leased locomotives were returned to the UP. Rock Island 4702 was repainted to UP 633 in June 1983. After the UP acquired the MP in 1984, and the MP came up short of power, the GP40's were shopped and some were re-painted and lettered in the North Little Rock style for the MP. This unit was numbered MP 633 June 14, 1985, leased to NdeM from October 1989 to January 1991, retired October 23, 1991; stored unserviceable at Fort Worth, Texas; sold to Phoenix Railway Corporation, Spokane, Washington, in February 1992; sale rescinded; sold to Helm Financial, April 3, 1992. There is probably more to this story, so please leave a comment if you have more info. |