I think that model railroaders tend to over weather engines and cars that are in active service. I have observed that most railroads kept their equipment in fairly good shape. NH Joe
2019 - Belen, NM This train is just departing the fueling pads and is heading west on the BNSF transcontinental toward LA.
2019 - Belen, NM. This is the pusher at the end of the train shown above.
2019 - This is an old F45 or FP45 in Belen being used as a switcher. The paint is faded but except for the trucks it is fairly clean.
2019 - An old SD40-2? being used as a switcher in Belen, NM
2019 - Jack London Square, Oakland, CA taken through the window of an Amtrak track train.
2019 - Old Genset switchers that are being retired. UP yard, Oakland, CA
2012 - Sacramento, CA. This engine was on display at the CA State RR Museum and was probably cleaned for that purpose. This was a test low emissions engine. I haven't seen any others like it.