Soooo... there I was in the spring of 1968 in Chicago hanging around Dearborn Street Station taking pictures of the Chicago and Eastern Illinois (among other roads). Next thing I know I drive 2,000 miles out to Spokane, Washington to take pictures of the Great Northern (among other roads)... with the C&EI in the background.
This is a NW2 built in 1949 recently repainted in Big Sky Blue!
BTW... the Great Northern Empire roster used to say this unit was not painted in this scheme.