Actually it was more due to "rationalization". After pullback, they had a surplus of units. So they quickly stored or retired all their small quantities, oddballs, non-upgraded and non-EMD. Boxcab E50
These would have been small quantity locos. They only ever acquired five of them. I found a later picture of #5 that appears as if it had had a fire amidships at some point.
Correct. Only 5. There may have been more than one which had a catastrophic failure, as I alluded to earlier. Starting 1980, they essentially retired or stored everything bought pre-1970's, or not upgraded mid-1970's. Excepting a few GP9, SW, etc. By 1981 there were few strays, and some stored were already enroute to scrappers. Boxcab E50
Lack of mantainence, surplus loco's, and the FP45's and the SD45's had the 20-cylinder 645 power train, which were very hungry for diesel, even in good condition. By the early 80's a recession was hitting as well.
