N FP45 Locomotive with DCC & Sound, MILW #3

Milwaukee Road’s five FP45s were a mere four years old when Amtrak took over passenger operations in the United States. These five, plus another order of five that was cancelled, were intended to replace Milwaukee’s aging E9 fleet. Crews disliked how the FP45s rode so much that they were demoted to freight service soon after word of Amtrak’s impending formation. The steam generators and water tanks were removed and additional concrete ballast was added to improve pulling power and ride quality. The first application of Milwaukee’s orange and black freight livery didn’t adhere well and before long the underlying Armour Yellow began showing so the locomotives were painted once more, receiving variations of the then current “Billboard” livery before being retired to the deadline by 1984.