SD60s from parent railroad Union Pacific, which have retained their prior numbers, show off the new paint scheme of operator Alton & Southern on Feb. 4, 2023. Photographer Nick Goedecke reports the railroad will be repainting at least six units, including some SD40Ns, and that plans are to modify this paint scheme to include bolder “Alton & Southern” lettering. A&S had already been operating these units, but they had been in UP paint, rather than in the A&S image.
The railroad, headquartered in East St. Louis, Ill., was founded by the Aluminum Co. of East St. Louis in 1910. The paint scheme reflects the switching railroad’s former owners — blue for Missouri Pacific and yellow for Chicago & North Western, which purchased the railroad in 1968. With both those roads later merged into Union Pacific, the A&S is now wholly owned by UP.
— Updated at 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 9 to clarify that locomotives received new paint but had already been operated but A&S and retain UP ownership.
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