| The 471 was built in 1950 by EMD as a Standard high hood GP7. It was orignally MEC 571. In 1985 this engine went to the shops and got the super crew cab thats on it now, and renumbered MEC 471. Amtrak bought the locomotive in 1990, and in 1994 Amtrak rebuilt it by giving it cab signals, better controls, and regeared for higher speeds. Its engine was upgradedfrom a 567 engine to a 645-E. It ran on the Amtrak shortline untill 1998 when it was retired. In the spring of 2000 Orville Railroad bought the locomotive for excursion trips, and it was repainted in the colors you see now. The wheeling and Lake Erie still leases it sometimes for freight use. |