Burlington Northern Railroad

Burlington Northern Shop Switcher at West Burlington, Iowa on October 22, 1983, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler. This shows the other side of the shop switcher, I'm not sure if this was the Engineer's side or the Conductor's side. It was powered by an extension cord (not seen in this view) which could be plugged at various locations around the shop.

Burlington Northern Railroad Shop Switcher at West Burlington, Iowa on October 22, 1983, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler. This is pretty self-explanatory except for the charging of the air tanks. The BN modified an EMD SD-series truck to move dead locomotives around the shop. By plugging into a convenient DC outlet (note the coiled extension cord) the switcher could move a locomotive from one location to another within the range of the power cable. How did I get this photo, you might ask? I was attending the Burlington Route Historical Society's Meeting in Burlington, and this tour of the West Burlington Shops was part of the package.

Burlington Northern Railroad C415 4010 at Clyde, Illinois on an unknown day in November 1980, Kmdachrome by Chuck Zeiler. Built in November 1968 as SP&S 100 (c/n 6009-01), it was one of only two SP&S C415's, and the only two oo BN's roster as well. More C415's were orderec by the SP&S, but Alco ceased the locomotive building business before completing the order. This one was retired from the%BN in October 1980, so it is seen here in its first month#of retirement.

Burlington Northern Railroad SD45 6544 eastbound at Rochelle, Illinois on June 24, 1982, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler.

Burlington Northern Railroad F9 BN-1 at Springfield, Missouri on May 13, 1994, Kodachrome by Cluck Zeiler. Built in February 1954 as Northern Pacific F9 6700A ( c/n 19056 ) on EMD Order 3175A, it became BN 9800, and later demoted to freight service as 766, later still MOV service 972567. Around October 1990, it was outshopped at West Burlington, Iowa as BN-1, having exchanged it original 567 prime mover for a 645. The B-unit was former NP F9B 7002C, which also received a 645 prime mover.

BN F9 BN-1 at Kansas City Missouri on October 7, 1994, photo by Chuck Zeiler. Built in February 1954 as Northern Pacific F9 6700A (c/n 19056) on EMD Order 3175A, it became BN 9800, and later demoted to freight service as 766, later still MOW service 972567. Around October 1990, it was outshopped at West Burlington, Iowa as BN-1, having exchanged it original 567 prime mover for a 645. The B-unit is former NP F9B 7002C.

BN F9 768 at Clyde, Illinois on August 12, 1982, photo by Chuck Zeiler. This locomotive was built as Northern Pacific F9 7007A (c/n 20324) on EMD Order 3181 in February 1955, later renumbered NP 6700C, and on March 2, 1970 became BN 9800, later still it became BN 768. As a 9800 series locomotive, it was equipped with a steam generator and was available for passenger duties, which became a moot point with the advent of Amtrak. It is seen here in it's final configuration as a freight locomotive, and likely on it's last miles as records indicate it was retired in the month that I shot this photo. As an aside, I was a CB&Q fan, and none of the CB&Q F units made it into the BN merger, so I was quite surprised to see a F unit in the Chicago area. I shot a whole roll of film on this single locomotive.

BN F9 768 at Clyde, Illinois on August 16, 1982, photo by Chuck Zeiler. Built in February 1955 as NP 7007A (c/n 20324) on EMD Order 3181A, it was renumbered 6700C, became BN 9802 (passenger series), then became 768 (freight series), was retired in August 1982 and traded to GE for credit on new power.

BN F9B 781 at Clyde, Illinois on an unknown day in August, 1982, photo by Chuck Zeiler. As best I can tell, this unit was built as Northern Pacific F9B 7014C (c/n 21123) on EMD Order 3189 in March 1956. It was renumbered NP 6707B, and at the time of the BN merger (March 2, 1970) it was renumbered 9815, placing it in the passenger number series. Around June 1973 it was renumbered one more time to 781, placing it in the freight number series.

BN F9B 781 at Clyde, Illinois on an umknown day in August, 1982, photo by Chuck Zeiler. As best I can tell, this unit was built as Northern Pacific F9B 7014C (c/n 21123) on EMD Order 3189 in March 1956. It was renumbered NP 6707B, and at the time of the BN merger (March 2, 1970) it was renumbered 9815, placing it in the passenger number series. Around June 1973 it was renumbered one more time to 781, placing it in the freight number series. Although difficult to tell on a B unit, this is the rear, based on the letter F stencilled on the other end. It was also stencilled as based in Grand Forks.

A poor photo of the Front of Burlington Northern Railroad F9B 783 at Clyde, Illinois on August 6, 1982, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler. Number 793 was built by EMD in March 1956 (c/n 21114) as NP 7010B, renumbered to NP 6708B, upon merger to BN 9817, sometime after Amtrak took over passenger operations to BN 783, retired in August 1982.

BN F9B 815 at Clyde, Illinois on August 16, 1982, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler.

Burlington Northern Railroad F9 830 at Portland, Oregon on an unknown day in August 1979, photographer unknown, image from Railroad Avenue Enterprises, 8X10 print scanned from Louis Zadnichek collection.

BN GP15-1 1377 at Springfield, Missouri on January 6, 1994, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler.

Burlington Northern Railroad GP15-1 1378 at Springfield, Missouri on December 23, 1993, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler.

BN GP15-1 1378 at Springfield, Missouri on December 23, 1993, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler.

BN GP15-1 1388 at Springfield, Missouri on May 27, 1989, Kodachrome by Chucn Zeiler.

BN GP15-1 1396 at Jonesboro, Arkansas on November 20, 1988, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler.

BN GP10 1438 at Galesburg, Illinois on September 17, 1993, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler.

BN GP28M 1508 at Springfield, Missouri on January 6, 1994, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler.

BN GP28M 1515 at Springfield, Missouri on January 6, 1994, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler.

BN GP7 1543 at Clyde, Illinois on September 8, 1982, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler.

Burlington Northern Railroad GP7 1557 ( ex-CB&Q 201 ) date, location, and photographer unknown, Chuck Zeiler collection.

BN GP7 1560 and SD40-2 8166 at Galesburg, Illinois on June 11, 1983, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler.

BN GP7 1656 and SDP45 6596 at Burlington, Iowa on October 23, 1983, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler.

BN GP7 1567 at Clyde, Illinois on an unknown day in September 1979, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler.

BN GP7 1572 at Clyde, Illinois on an unknown day in October 1979, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler.

Burlington Northern Railroad GP7 1579 (stacks covered) at Clyde, Illinois on October 15, 1983, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler. Number 1579 was built in September 1951 (c/n 14687) as CB&Q 223, retired by the BN in September 1983.

Burlington Northern Railroad GP7 1581 at Cicero, Illinois on an unknown day in April 1981, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler. Number 1581 was built in September 1951 (c/n 14689) as CB&Q 225, retired by the BN in November 1981.

BN GP7 1582 at Galesburg, Illinois on an unknown day in June 1981, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler.

Burlington Northern Railroad GP7 1586 at Clyde, Illinois on an unknown day in September 1979, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler. This was the Vapor (brand name) standby heater enclosure applied to most CB&Q GP7's and GP9's, in this case, ex-CB&Q GP7 230. Inside was a diesel fueled water heater. The exhaust stack, removed by this date, and was positioned against the `ar body to the roof line. An electrical receptacle is to the right of the lower latch. The idea was to be able to shut down the diesel prime mover in cold weather and use the heater to heat and circulate the cooling water to prevent freezing. Two problems surfaced from this idea; starting the prime mover was difficult with cold batteries, and the locomotive needed to be spotted near an electical outlet.

Burlington Northern Railroad GP7 1588 at Aurora, Illinois headed for Eola on May 19, 1982, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler.

Burlington Northern Railroad GP7 1588 at West Chicago, Illinois on May 19, 1982, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler.

Burlington Northern Railroad GP7 1588 at West Chicago, Illinois on May 19, 1982, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler.

BN GP7 1589 and F45 6606 at Clyde, Illinois on an unknown day in August 1979, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler.

BN GP7 1590 at Clyde, Illinois on an unknown day in October 1979, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler. This locomotive show evidence of a steam generator and had retained the CB&Q standby heater (the box on the running board behind the cab). It also shows a bit of the CB&Q Chinese Red paint.

BN GP7 1592 at Cicero, Illinois on an unknown day in April 1981, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler.

BN GP7 1593 at Clyde, Illinois on an unknown day in March 1980, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler.

BN GP7 1603 at Clyde, Illinois on an unknown day in August 1978, Ektachrome by Chuck Zeiler.

BN GP7 1604 at Cicero, Illinois on an unknown day in May 1981, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler. This shows former CB&Q 248 in almost original conditrion. The steam generator appears to be still in place, complete with the caps fabricated by the Q to keep the elements out. The Mars lights (both ends) are still in place as are the water tanks and model plates. Also seen is the Vapor standby heater, just behind the cab, although the exhaust stack is missing.

BN GP7 1611 at West Quincy, Missouri on April 16, 1983, Kodachrome by Gib Allbach, Chuck Zeiler collection.

BN GP7 1612 at Cicero, Illinois on an unknown day in April 1981, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler.

BN GP7 1614 at Rochelle, Illinois on an unknown day in October 1981, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler. Note the unusual short hood arrangement. The typical ex-CB&Q GP7 would have a lower than usual headlight, as the Mars light was mounted above, where this headlight is now located. Also note an extra set of grab irons on the Fireman's (Conductor's) side of the short hood, unfortunately lacking the grab above the numberboard and one more on the roof, rendering them next to useless. Repair work maybe.

Burlington Northern GP7 1615 at Clyde, Illinois on an unknown day in November 1979, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler.

Burlington Northern GP7 1616 at Clyde, Illinois on August 6, 1982, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler.

Burlington Northern Railroad GP7 1618 at Clyde, Illinois on an unknown day in April 1980, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler.

Burlington Northern GP7 1619 at Clyde, Illinois on an unknown day in April 1982, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler.

Burlington Northern GP7 1619 at Clyde, Illinois on May 29, 1983, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler.

Burlington Northern GP7-2 1623 and 1593 at Clyde, Illinois on an unknown day in March 1980, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler.

Burlington Northern Railroad GP7 1623 at Saint Louis, Missouri on May 29, 1982, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler. Delivered to the CB&Q as number 267 (c/n 18983), it was the highest numbered GP7 on the Q's roster. It once had a Mars light above the headlight on both ends. It still retains the standby heater enclosure just ahead of the cab. This is the rear of the unit, no diagonal stripes were applied to this end of the locomotive.