Same was true with several of the bicentennial diesels, including C&NW EMD GP18 no. 1776 and most notably SCL GE U36B no. 1776, which started the trend circa 1973 and was the most modeled engine (Lionel, Bachmann and Athearn) during that time period.
Tyco, which mimicked the SCL scheme on its Alco Centuries, had a TV ad that I believe started running in the 1973 holiday season for its Spirit of '76 train set in HO. That's what got me started on bicentennial diesels. Sadly, I can find no copy of that commercial anywhere on the Internet.
In a similar story line, I have read that it's cab #1225, is why the Pere Marquette 2-8-4, that was the inspiration for the locomotive in Polar Express was saved because, someone didn't want to see it go to scrap because of the cab#'s association with Christmas. I don't know if that is "The Truth, The Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth", but it DOES make a Nice Story.
While not related to the cab# , the Nevada Northern Ry 4-6-0 #40 was saved because someone there couldn't stand the thought of her being cut, and she was "Hidden" in various places all over the RR, including reportedly, at one point under a pile of scrap. Fortunately she survived the bean counters half hearted searches and was a Very Enjoyable part of my "Engineer For a Day" experience on the NNRY, back in 2007.
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Sorry for slipping off topic,
Doug