Wisconsin Central made SW1500(RS) switch engines an important component of their locomotive fleet after their Oct. 11, 1987 start up. Some came from SP origin, some from NS. Here the 1561 and 1556 show off their final pre-CN takeover color scheme. 1561 was built as Kentucky & Indiana Terminal no. 71 in February 1968 (later Southern 71). No. 1556 was built as SP 2652 in June 1972.