Maine Central's Rock Island Locomotives

I had posted this message on the New England Regional forum..... perhaps it is more appropriate to this forum.

The front cover of this past May's issue of Train's Magazine, has a photo of a Rock Island RR train from 1974, the lead unit being a U-25b class engine, # 226.

The MEC purchased 14 of these units, #'s 225 to 238, for mainline service in 1980, although four were likely used for parts only. The units were re-painted in MEC colours and retained their Rock Island #'s.

As a matter of fact, Unit # 226 was the first to receive the MEC colour scheme of the period.

Just in case you want to know,(according to my info) GE U25B units #233, #235, #236, and #237 were all bought for parts, and never turned a wheel for the MEC.