The true story behind bi-centennial unit 1776

[peggyrothschild]

[attachment=1:1gk322na]1776.jpg[/attachment:1gk322na]

[attachment=0:1gk322na]84.jpg[/attachment:1gk322na]

I don’t think this story has been documented before. The ‘original’ Missouri Pacific 1776 was never repainted in bi-centennial colors. It was delivered to the Mopac in March 1953 as 4259. Second renumbering was 325 and third renumbering was 1776. The fourth renumbering as 1639. 1639 was never was placed back into service as it was quickly retired in November 1975.

So why didn’t 1776 get it’s red, white and blue colors?

Here’s the background.

I was working in Van Buren in November and December 1975 for a major computer cutover. One day I was looking over the advanced consist and saw 1776 with three or four other units headed for North Little Rock on a ‘long-barrel’ local out of Kansas City. The Mopac would use some secondary through freights to do switching along the route. It was second shift and in winter (so no last minute photos) I saw the train change crews at Van Buren and made a mental note 1776 was probably on it’s way to NLRK for a new red, white and blue paint job to celebrate our nation’s birthday after all the other Classs 1 railroads were painting bi-centennial locomotives. It was still in the early 1961 paint; Jenks blue, narrow striping, red MPL buzz saw on the cab sides and small 1776 on top the hood.

The next morning I was back in the yard office and heard 1776 had been involved in an accident. Later that day, the unit was pulled back into Van Buren and there was oil everywhere on the walkways (where was my camera?). The train was switching at Russellville and the crew had cut off the two lead units to do their switching and left 1776 on the train. When they backed into the parked train they misjudged where they’d left it and ran hard enough into 1776 to damage the frame.

The Mopac quickly needed a replacement and pulled C&EI 84 into bi-centennial service. The C&EI GP-7 84 (originally C&EI 212) was in great shape and had been used to pull Mopac director’s specials. It was retired in September 1977 and traded-in to EMD on new power.

[benjamintickell53]

Does anyone have drawings of the lettering on these bicentennial locomotives? They were painted at North Little Rock, but one report suggests that the detailed lettering was handled by an outside contractor for Baird Signs in Little Rock. Can anyone provide additional information on how this design was developed and who might have been involved in the lettering?

Bill Pollard

[peggyrothschild]

Bill
Ray Curl introduced me to the guy in the Mechanical Department that did the design. He worked on the 12th floor of the MP GA. Sadly i don’t remember his name today.

I never heard the details on a Little Rock firm but they could have easily have done the final design work for the stencils. It wasn’t all that many years ago so hopefully someone will have more information.

[bargetanika]

So, what happened? The “original” 1776 had its frame damaged, but was it renumbered to 1639 after the accident? And never run again?

[peggyrothschild]

The accident was in November 1975 and the number swap happened shortly after the original 1776 was damaged. Eudaly’s Mopac diesel book shows 1639 retired November 1975 so it was too damaged to be fixed.

[bargetanika]

What was the 1776/1639? A GP 7?

[mopac]

Bill and all

I have the original MP painting diagram for this or 1976, they are put away but I will look for today. they are very large.

I have no use for them so we or MPHS need to figure out what to do with them.

OK according to the drawing this was done at the MP Mech Department St Louis 1 26 1976

Bill Basden Delta Models deltamodelsusa.com

@arkrail wrote:

Does anyone have drawings of the lettering on these bicentennial locomotives? They were painted at North Little Rock, but one report suggests that the detailed lettering was handled by an outside contractor for Baird Signs in Little Rock. Can anyone provide additional information on how this design was developed and who might have been involved in the lettering?

Bill Pollard

[benjamintickell53]

When did C&EI 84 (MP 1776 2nd) lose its torpedo tubes on the roof? Was that done at the time it was rebuilt as 1776, or had they come off earlier?

Bill, thanks for posting the diagrams of the units. I hope that those can be digitized as part of the MPHS archives.

Bill Pollard

[mopac]

Bill

Just get me an address for the archives and I will donate this. I to hope it can be digitized
as it is yellow with age.

Bill Basden

@arkrail wrote:

When did C&EI 84 (MP 1776 2nd) lose its torpedo tubes on the roof? Was that done at the time it was rebuilt as 1776, or had they come off earlier?

Bill, thanks for posting the diagrams of the units. I hope that those can be digitized as part of the MPHS archives.

Bill Pollard

[mopac]

Bill and all MPHS Members:

I am sending this diagram as a donation to the MPHS archives. David Huelsing should get it soon.

Bill Basden Delta Models http://www.deltamodelsusa.com

[luisflierl26]

Bill – I am really looking forward to seeing these drawings, this will be a great addition to the collection. I’m a big fan of all the Bicentennial engines.

Here is a link to some additional info on these engines.
http://www.trainweb.org/screamingeagle/bicentennial.html

[luisflierl26]

Bill:

I received the diagram, it is a great addition to the collection. I will be getting it scanned soon.
Would you like a receipt for the donation?

Thanks,
David Huelsing
Archivist

[mopac]

David

thanks for letting me know you received it. hope the scan comes out OK.

Please send a receipt for the donation.

Bill

[luisflierl26]

I assume 1776 and 1976 were used throughout the whole MP system. I have seen photos of them on the American Freedom Train assisting 4449.

Does anyone know if they were ever used in Texas while T&P 610 was the head of the Freedom Train?

T&P 610 was used on the AFT Feb-Mar 1976 only in Texas, and I have only seen Santa Fe Bicentennial diesels as helpers on that engine.

[Author]

Posts