A pair of CNW Dash 8s rolls coal east for Chicago. The train is about 60 miles west of Clinton as they approach Mechanicsville. Note the westbound main still has stick rail in it. The CNW bought these C40 units in 3 sets: C40-8s numbered 8501-8530 and 8531-8542 and C42-8s numbered 8543-8577. All came on the property between 1989 and 1991.
The "Zito Yellow" was first introduced on the CNW 5500s in 1981. Due to the poor paint in Pantone 102C yellow, a lot of units faded or changed colors. The first 2 orders of C40s came in Zito, but due to the baking sun in the PRB, the units had to be repainted by 1991. 42 units were repainted by MAC in Kansas City. With that, the last order came from GE in the "Stagecoach Yellow." So this era of 2 different painted C40s didn't last long. The 8543 would have been the first one to come in newer yellow.
Scanned negative from September 1991
