7457 was constructed in August 1966 as Southern Pacific #8800, the first of 44 EMD SD45s,[1] upon being delivered to Southern Pacific, it was built with the SP’s distinctive light package that contained several headlights and mars lights.[2]
8800 was rebuilt in September 1982 into an SD45R and renumbered to 7457 that same year in 1982 during the Southern Pacific's M-99 rebuild program. 7457 had lasted into the days of the Union Pacific when Southern Pacific and its parent company Rio Grande Industries had merged into Union Pacific.
7457 had never carried a Union Pacific number when it was first added to the Union Pacific's roster. It had run several trips between Ogden, Utah and the West Coast via Donner Pass until being retired from active service on February 7, 2001, and was donated to the Utah State Railroad Museum on February 5, 2002, where it was placed on static display at the museum.[2]