Todd Schannuth adds: This was the Blue Goose that traveled with the GM Train of Tomorrow in 1947-1949. The Train of Tomorrow needed a support car, and that duty fell to an old-style heavyweight car. The car was former B&O combine NATIONAL ROAD, built in 1925 to plan 3951 in lot 4885 by Pullman-Standard as a club-buffet-baggage. For the Train of Tomorrow, the seating section was removed to create dormitory space for the Pullman porters who traveled with the train. The car was initially painted completely blue-green like the rest of the train, save for a small bit of silver on the rear roof. The 'metal' fluting applied to the car to match the rest of the train was actually just paint. The car usually moved ahead of the Train of Tomorrow on other scheduled passenger trains. When this was not possible, the car was put directly behind the Train of Tomorrow locomotive. For many months the nickname Blue Goose was unofficial. Before the car got a full Train of Tomorrow makeover to match the rest of the train, the car was simply lettered G.M.C Office Car. It later received BLUE GOOSE lettering in the same style as the rest of the cars. Blue Goose also carried the ramps needed at each display site. Later, the car was used by EMD as a mobile Diesel Locomotive Training Center, then to Rock Island as Instruction Car 1820. The car MAY reside today in Rocky River, Ohio. See also: http://themetrains.com/gm-train-of-tomorrow-roster.htm

By early 1975, the Rock Island could no longer pay its bills, and petitioned the backruptcy courts for reorganization and protection from creditors on March 17, 1975. Federal Judge Frank McGarr appointed as trustee William M. Gibbons, who promptly appointed John W. Ingram as president and CEO. One of Ingram's first actions was to announce a new paint scheme and image, and this may or may not be the first locomotive to wear that New Image paint. It later became C&NW 4162.