Mike,
You stated that the 74 was brougnt back for a final curtain call after the C&S got the last drop out of her.
I don't know if I completely agree with that. Yes, the RGS were experts at getting the ICC man to look the other way, but the 74, although well worn, still hsd some life left. She had to, as when she was acquired the RGS had no spare bucks except for the most rudimentary of repairs. She was not a favorite of RGS crews, who by that time had the 455 and 461 to play with, and as a large soak engine I'm not sure that I'd particularly like it after superheated locomotives.
The reason that I say that the 74's resurrection on the RGS is overrated is because both her sisters, 75 and 76 went to Peru for many more years of service, and the 74 hadn't been rolled like the 75 had.
Perhaps Doug Snurbush or someone else told you something that is not a matter of public record, but it seems that the ex-DB&W locomotives were used at the end of the C&S and rotated quite frequently (probably for necessary repairs). The C&S was not a rag-tag outfit like the RGS and could afford more repairs than the RGS even at the end when the mantra and maintenance was "OMT" (One More Trip).
I wonder how desperate the CHS actually was for the 74, as they seemed to scramble for any ex-C&S locomotive that they could get their hands on when they decided that they could manage the Loop so much better than their predecessor. As things stand, I see nothing being done with the 60 at all. You would think that that type of desperation would manifest itself in serious action rather than "Skimming the cream" as it were. I am told that Central City has all ready told the CHS "No" on the 71.
Rick
