Sunday, April 1, 2018

Burlington Northern Full Dome Observation Car BNA #24 Glacier View

Burlington Northern Full Dome Observation Car BNA #24 Glacier View in Kelso, Washington

Glacier View was originally built by the Budd Company in 1955 as a full dome-lounge car for the Great Northern’s Empire Builder. It was originally Great Northern #1390, and was always named Glacier View. It it notable for having been painted in an experimental version of Burlington Northern Cascade Green paint scheme in 1968, two years before the merger. When the Great Northern was merged into Burlington Northern in March 1970, it became Burlington Northern #1390.

Burlington Northern Full Dome Observation Car BNA #24 Glacier View in Kelso, Washington

When Amtrak took over passenger rail service in 1971, the car became Amtrak #9360. It was retired by Amtrak in April 1981, and Burlington Northern re-acquired it in 1983. It was rebuilt by Burlington Northern’s Como Shops in St. Paul, Minnesota, with a fully-equipped kitchen and dining area for 22 people, a dome observation area with 16 swivel lounge chairs under the dome, and a two-level theater-style seating area with full glass end observation window.

Burlington Northern Full Dome Observation Car BNA #24 Glacier View in Kelso, Washington

This was one of the first cars to be painted in the new “executive” dark green and cream colors in 1993.

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