On March 10, 2023, Union Pacific’s former F7 unit numbered 401, arrived at the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad after a months-long journey from Cheyenne, Wyoming. The locomotive was donated by Union Pacific after being stored since the 1990s. It was formerly one of C&NW’s executive train locomotives in the 1980s, but is currently inoperable.
After leaving Cheyenne, it traveled in the donation train heading to Silvis, Ill. with UP #3985, #5511 and passenger equipment in November 2022. The train was detoured onto the Iowa Interstate Railroad after several delays and the 401 was left in Council Bluffs, Iowa since December.
The Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad in Boone, Iowa houses the James H. Andrew Railroad Museum and operates several excursions over 11 miles of the former C&NW railroad.
Photo from Trains Magazine credited to the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad.
Learn more:
Trains Magazine article
RYPN post and discussion
Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad website