General Purpose Rebuilds

In 2008, the now-segmented Columbus & Greenville was purchased by shortline holding company Genesee & Wyoming. Prior to that acquisition, in the early 2000s, the Delta Route purchased two final batches of 4-axle power to supplement its roster and relieve the aging CF7 and GP9 units. Four former Chicago & North Western rebuilt GP7s were purchased on the secondhand market. All dated from the early 1950s, all were classified as GP7r, and all received CAGY's "John Deere green" paint scheme that had been applied to some of the CF7s and GP9s. The standard GP7s had been rebuilt by C&NW as a part of their large Oelwein, Iowa, rebuild program. Although not primarily an upgrading program, units received chopped noses, relocated air reservoirs, dynamic brake removal, and liberated exhaust manifolds. The four rebuilds received at Columbus were from C&NW's nos. 4466-4496 rebuilt GP7 series, which CAGY renumbered Nos. 1000-1003. At least two of the units had started their careers with the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway.

Five more B-B rebuilds would also join the pre-Genesee & Wyoming roster, these from the ranks of Illinois Central Gulf's "Paducah rebuilds." Throughout the 1970s, Illinois Central and later ICG used its Paducah, Kentucky, shops to rebuild aging GP7 and GP9 units — both their own as well as secondhand units from other roads — into upgraded GP8 and GP10 rebuilds. Beginning in 1978, Paducah produced a GP11 model that made use of Dash 2 electrical components in addition to all upgrades incorporated into the previous 8 and 10 models. GP11s featured an angled cab, a shortened nose, and modern electrical cabinets. Three of CAGY's purchased GP11s began careers as original Illinois Central high-hood Geeps, but two of the five were rebuilt at Paducah from ex New Haven > Penn Central > Conrail Geeps. All five arrived in Columbus wearing the 'new' Illinois Central's all-black "Death Star" paint scheme and logo. Most would later receive the CAGY green and silver in use after 2000 and up until the G&W acquisition.