VAUGHN NM Sept 3 1983 — Santa Fe C30-7 8165 passes a signal with a TOFC train. GE built the unit (s/n 44079) in December 1982 with black on white number boards, a roof-mounted air conditioning unit, 74:18 gear ratio and painted blue body with yellow warbonnet livery. It was re-geared to 83:20 before 1985. As part of the proposed merger of the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe it was repainted in SPSF livery with red body, yellow warbonnet, black roof and black underframe. It received SPSF reporting marks but retained its 8165 number. After the Interstate Commerce Commission rejected the merger it was repainted before Jan 1 1991 to yellow warbonnet livery and regained its ATSF reporting marks. After its scheduled retirement on May 15 1995 it was transferred to Burlington Northern Santa Fe on Sept 22 1995. On Feb 4 1998 it was renumbered BNSF 5208 and retained its yellow warbonnet livery. BNSF retired the unit in January 2000. A Reddit post in mid-2018 by Sambro333 reports, “BNSF kept 3 C30-7s in working condition to provide backup power for the locomotive shops. Two BN C30-7s and this ATSF one. Two other BN C30-7s were used for parts.” The poster was referring to the former ATSF 8165. I believe the location was the Alliance shops in Nebraska. Corrections and/or additions welcome. My photo.
