In March of 1976, Western Pacific chose GP40 number 3540 to repaint into the special red, white and blue scheme. This would become the 1776, featuring the "Betsy Ross" flag in a slight wave pattern on the cab sides. The 1776 also featured roundels on the long hood walkways. Out of the paint shop, the both sides sported the Great Seal of the U.S. Later, WP interchanged these with a Liberty Bell and US Bonds design. You'll get ALL FOUR roundels with this unit!

June 1976 saw WP 3541 leave the paint booth as the 1976, in a similar scheme. The cab featured the standard 50-star U.S. flag and the Great Seal of the U.S. roundels, mounted on the walkway handrail stanchions.

Red GP40 Locomotives just look good. Upon delivery, the Missouri-Kansas-Texas GP40s were painted in an attractive red scheme with giant white M-K-T letters and pilot chevrons. These lacked dynamic brakes but came with footboards. Rapido Trains Inc. render below does not show the footboards, but they will be there.

Now, Rapido Trains Inc. can't forget MKT's entry into the Bicentennial party! Unit 200 was chosen and repainted into a striking red, white and blue scheme similar to their current green and yellow scheme. The front had red and white stripes, the body featured a light blue and the hood had an American flag prominently painted onto the doors. Rapido Trains Inc. captured every detail MKT had on these units, right down to the correct 2,600 gallon tanks!

It's 2025 and a Class I railroad is still operating straight-GP40s? Wild info! Four Illinois Central GP40Rs remain on CN-IC's roster, operating out of the Chicago/Midwest area. What makes these GP40Rs even more iconic is they're still wearing the classic IC all-black scheme with the popular "deathstar" logo. Many have faded and have replacement parts, adding to their gritty looks.

• TWO POPULAR BICENTENNIAL SCHEMES: WP AND MKT
• ICONIC LOCOMOTIVE FROM THE LATE 1960S STILL IN OPERATION TODAY
• AMAZING AMOUNT ROAD-SPECIFIC DETAILS AND LIGHTING FEATURES

The Standard Rapido GP40 Locomotive Features:

• Road-specific details for each model
• Rapido’s innovative dead straight metal side handrails with plastic stanchions
• Incredible underframe detail including traction motor cables, air filters
• Separate metal grab irons and handrails installed at the factory
• Operating headlights, rear lights, white class lights, ditch lights and beacons (where appropriate).
• Highly detailed cab interior
• Appropriate cab or nose headlights and Gyralites (where appropriate)
• Road-specific battery box doors
• Correct fuel tank sizes per road number
• Multiple styles of stepwells
• See-through, etched steps
• Cannon and Company licensed fans
• Detailed Blomberg B truck with traction motor details
• Multiple dynamic-brake hatches and air ducts
• DC/Silent (21-pin DCC Ready) or DC/DCC/ESU LokSound
• MoPower capacitor system for uninterrupted DCC power
• Suggested minimum radius: 18”

Illinois Central — “Final Four”

• Nathan P5R24 Air Horn on cab roof
• Gray A/C Box
• Large front plow
• IC-style numberboard font
• Matte black finish
• IC-style ditch lights (front and rear)
• Multiple Sinclair antennas on cab roof
• “Autostart” warning stickers
• FRA yellow sill stripe and stepwells
• “No Excessive Horn Blowing” sticker

Looking for more Rapido Trains Inc. EMD (Electro-Motive Division) GP-40 Diesel Locomotives? Click here!