More likely it would have been near Hill AFB or Tooele in Utah. Hill has the US military's locomotive shop.
The US Army had many standard and standard-broad gauge versions of the RS4TC, some lasting long enough to get totally rebuilt with new engines, brakes and control stands. The US military no longer considers railroads strategic, though a few bases still have heavy rail service for moving military vehicles. It used to be the US military had rail service and locomotives at almost every base or air field, and was prepared to provide basic railroad service with their own locomotives and equipment on the front.
Many Central and South American 42" gauge railroads got good deals after WW2 on steam locomotives and rolling stock intended for the invasion of Japan. USA 3000 was built for artic use and had all kinds of heating systems and possibly an aluminum body to keep weight down.