D&H #752 in Watervliet (1969)

Here is a shot of D&H U33C #752 leading a train south through Watervliet on August 25, 1969. If you are wondering about the unual paint scheme, there is a story behind it. 

The D&H normally purchased diesels only from Alco and General Electric, but in 1967 EMD tested three SD45 demonstrator locomotives on the D&H. Apparently, the D&H needed engines and EMD offered them a great deal... perhaps to attempt to lure the D&H into buying more EMDs. It worked, and the three engines were acquired.

However, the D&H didn't like them. They were nicknamed "Hummingbirds" though I am not sure why. Part of their issue was because the maintenance crews needed separate inventories for three lone EMD engines in a roster of Alcos and GEs. So, in 1969 after only two years they were swapped with the Erie Lackawanna for three GE U33C engines. The Erie Lackawanna's maroon and gray scheme was retained, with D&H blue replacing the maroon. As D&H repaints go (and there were a lot when it aquiried a bunch of Geeps at the formation of Conrail), this was pretty tasteful. By 1972, the U33C engines were repainted into the more traditional D&H "Lightning Stripe" scheme. 

Ironically, the three initial SD45s were later returned to the D&H on Conrail's "Conveyance Day" in 1976 and all were then patch painted for the D&H, again with the EL's maroon repainted in blue. They lasted on the D&H for two more years before being sold to Mexico in 1978.