Riding Amtrak's Westbound Empire Builder in December 2002

I took these pictures on December 21, 2002, while riding Amtrak’s westbound Empire Builder. This historic depot was built in 1912 and once served the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad, or Soo Line, which is now part of the Canadian Pacific Railway. This depot is no longer owned by the railroad. It is located in Minot's historic downtown district and houses the Old Soo Depot Transportation Museum.

This depot is the one currently served by Amtrak. It is located just west of the old Soo Line depot, on the opposite side of the U.S. Highway 83 overpass. This depot was originally built in 1910 by the Great Northern Railway. A major renovation in 1975 replaced the original gabled roof with a flat roof, covered the original brick with stucco and remodeled the interior. Here Amtrak's Empire Builder can be seen making its station stop. Just to the north of the depot, on the other side of the tracks and past some trees, is the Souris River.

Just to the west of the Amtrak station, and visible from its platform, is crossing of the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad and the Canadian Pacific Railway. In this 2002 photo, Amtrak's Empire Builder is stopped on the BNSF track and the freight train crossing in front of it is on the CP track. This crossing is the busiest rail crossing in the state of North Dakota. The building visible behind the Canadian Pacific freight train is the Minot Public Library.

During the Empire Builder’s service stop in Minot, North Dakota, I braved the winter snow to check out the motive power consist and discovered Amtrak #383, a 3,000-horsepower F40PHR that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in July 1981 using parts from retired Amtrak SDP40F #518. It is painted to match the Pacific Surfliner equipment used in southern California between San Luis Obispo and San Diego.

Pictured in Havre, Montana, Burlington Northern Santa Fe #3441 is a 1,500-horsepower SW1500 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in January 1973 as St. Louis-San Francisco (also known as the Frisco) #356. The Frisco was merged into the Burlington Northern on November 21, 1980, and this locomotive became Burlington Northern #61. Burlington Northern classified EMD’s SW1500s as SW15s. Following the merger of the Burlington Northern and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe on September 22, 1995, this locomotive became Burlington Northern Santa Fe #3441 on February 19, 1998, and was repainted in Burlington Northern Santa Fe's "Heritage I" paint scheme on April 28, 2000.

Also in Havre near the shops, Burlington Northern Santa Fe #8615 is a 4,000-horsepower Dash 8-40B that was built by General Electric in June 1988 as Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe #7425. Following the merger of the Burlington Northern and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe on September 22, 1995, this locomotive became Burlington Northern Santa Fe #8615 on January 12, 2000, and was repainted in Burlington Northern Santa Fe’s “Heritage I” paint scheme on December 16, 2000.

I took this picture the next day on December 22, 2002, while riding the Portland section of Amtrak’s westbound Empire Builder through Wishram, Washington. Unless running extremely late, the Empire Builder generally made an extended station stop in Wishram to allow cigarette smokers an opportunity to satisfy their addiction, as the smoking car was part of the train’s Seattle section. I merely turned my attention and my camera to the railroad equipment outside the window. Burlington Northern #2871 is a GP39M that was originally built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in February 1964 as Southern Pacific #7452, a 2,500-horsepower GP35. After 1965 it was renumbered to Southern Pacific #6564. It was retired in January 1991 and was sold to Morrison-Knudsen of Boise, Idaho, who rebuilt it into 2,300-horsepower GP39M Burlington Northern #2871 in July 1991. With it is Burlington Northern Santa Fe #2083, a 2,000-horsepower GP38-2 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in May 1972 as Burlington Northern #2083. Following the merger of the Burlington Northern and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe on September 22, 1995, this locomotive became Burlington Northern Santa Fe #2083 and was repainted in Burlington Northern Santa Fe's "Heritage I" paint scheme on October 2, 2000.

Trains in Portland & Vancouver in August 2000

I took these pictures in August of 2000. First, at Union Pacific's Albina Yard in Portland, Oregon, is Union Pacific #9408, a 4,135-horsepower Dash 8-41CW that was built by General Electric in November 1990.

Here is a trio of Union Pacific 2,000-horsepower GP38-2s, which all have different histories. On the right is Union Pacific #2022, which was built new for Union Pacific by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in April 1974. On the left is Union Pacific #2171, which was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in January 1980 as Missouri Pacific #2171. After the Missouri Pacific was merged into the Southern Pacific in 1982, this locomotive became Union Pacific #2171 on October 8, 1993. Finally, in the center is Union Pacific #2530, which has a more complicated history that deserves a closer look.

Union Pacific #2530 was originally built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in January 1966 as Illinois Central #3026, a 3,000-horsepower GP40 without dynamic brakes. On August 10, 1972, the Illinois Central merged with the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio to form the Illinois Central Gulf, and this locomotive became Illinois Central Gulf #3026. After being retired by ICG, the locomotive was acquired by Helm Financial Corporation, reconditioned with dynamic brakes added, and leased to Union Pacific, becoming Union Pacific #853 on May 26, 1989. In 1998 it was returned to Helm Financial, was rebuilt by Boise Locomotive Company of Boise, Idaho, into a 2,000-horsepower GP38-2, and again leased to Union Pacific, becoming Union Pacific #2530 on August 20, 1998. When it was rebuilt from a GP40 to a GP38-2, its turbocharger was removed and an air filter box was installed in front of the dynamic brake housing, but it otherwise still resembles a pre-Dash 2 GP40, with three radiator fans, no water level sight glass below the radiators, and no shock absorbers on the trucks.

Leading a northbound freight train fast the Amtrak depot in Vancouver, Washington, is Burlington Northern Santa Fe #2880, a GP39M that was originally built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in December 1964 as Cotton Belt (St. Louis Southwestern) #767, a 2,500-horsepower GP35. After 1965 it was renumbered to Cotton Belt #6507. Retired on April 15, 1987, it was sold on August 16, 1988 to Wilson Rail Services, then resold later that month to Morrison-Knudsen of Boise, Idaho, who rebuilt it into 2,300-horsepower GP39M Burlington Northern #2880 on February 10, 1989. Following the merger of the Burlington Northern and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe on September 22, 1995, this locomotive became Burlington Northern Santa Fe #2880 and was repainted into Burlington Northern Santa Fe's "Heritage I" paint scheme on May 9, 2000, and had its headlight lowered into the nose following Santa Fe practice.

Southern Pacific #8165 is a 4,380-horsepower Dash 9-44CW that was built by General Electric in October 1994.

Spliced between a Burlington Northern Santa Fe Dash 9-44CW and a former Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (now BNSF) SD45-2 are Burlington Northern #6845 & #8153, 3,000-horsepower SD40-2s that were built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in July 1978 and July 1980, respectively. Burlington Northern #6845 was built as St. Louis-San Francisco (SLSF, also known as the Frisco) #955. The Frisco was merged into the Burlington Northern on November 21, 1980, and the locomotive became Burlington Northern #6845.

Leading a freight train from Portland to head east up the Columbia River Gorge, Burlington Northern Santa Fe #8022 is a 3,000-horsepower SD40-2 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in March 1978. Following the merger of the Burlington Northern and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe on September 22, 1995, this locomotive became Burlington Northern Santa Fe #8022 and was repainted into Burlington Northern Santa Fe's "Heritage I" paint scheme on December 21, 1998, and had its headlight lowered into the nose following Santa Fe practice.

The trailing unit in the freight train, Burlington Northern #7278 is a 3,000-horsepower SD40-2 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in March 1980.

Trains in Vancouver, Washington, on August 1, 1999

In the afternoon of August 1, 1999, I arrived in Vancouver, Washington, having been riding a very late westbound Empire Builder that ended up being suspended in Spokane and then taking an Amtrak-chartered bus the rest of the way. My late arrival in Vancouver coincided with some interesting Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight traffic.

A westbound loaded coal train from the Columbia River Gorge made its way around the Vancouver wye to continue north towards Seattle. This coal was probably bound for the coal-fired power plant in Centralia, Washington.

As this train slowly made its way around the wye, we had enough time to get in the car and move to the railroad crossing on West 11th Street to get a better view of the train.

The lead locomotive was Burlington Northern Santa Fe #8826, a 4,000-horsepower SD70MAC that was built by the General Motors Locomotive Group in London, Ontario, in March 1999.

The second unit was Burlington Northern Santa Fe #9989, another 4,000-horsepower SD70MAC that was built by the General Motors Locomotive Group in London, Ontario, in December 1998.

This coal train featured a number of experimental "Trough Train" articulated aluminum coal hoppers. Designed by Burlington Northern and built by Johnstown America Corporation, a total of 23 of these 13-unit sets were constructed in November and December of 1994. Each set was 278 feet long and had a single axle at each end with a standard freight truck at each articulation joint, and no bulkheads between the intermediate units (hence the name "Trough Train"). With each set having a capacity of 28,740 cubic feet, a train of all 23 sets equaled the capacity of 146 standard coal hoppers with less length and weight. These cars were not successful enough for any more to be built, but they remained in service for a number of years.

While the long coal train passed by, I noticed Burlington Northern #2882 parked on the servicing tracks near the Vancouver depot. Originally built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in April 1964 as 2,500-horsepower GP35 #984 for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy. After the CB&Q was merged into Burlington Northern in March 1970, it became Burlington Northern #2530. In March 1990 it was rebuilt by Morrison-Knudsen of Boise, Idaho, as 2,300-horsepower GP39M Burlington Northern #2882.

The coal train had a pair of rear-end helpers on the back end. Burlington Northern #9432 is a 4,000-horsepower SD70MAC that was built by the General Motors Locomotive Group in London, Ontario, in March 1994.

Note that the coal train was not made up entirely of "Trough Train" sets, but also included conventional 3-bay hopper cars as well.

On the rear end of the coal train was Burlington Northern Santa Fe #9892, a 4,000-horsepower SD70MAC that was built by the General Motors Locomotive Group and assembled by Bombardier in Mexico in July 1998.

The coal train was closely followed by another freight train, led by Burlington Northern #5566, a 3,000-horsepower C30-7 that was built by General Electric in December 1977.

Norfolk Southern #6652 is a 3,800-horsepower SD60 that was built by the General Motors Locomotive Group in London, Ontario, in November 1988.

The most interesting locomotive in this consist is Burlington Northern #7149, a 3,000-horsepower SD40-2 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in February 1979. It was the second of two SD40-2s that Burlington Northern converted to DF40-2s that could be fueled by refrigerated liquid methane, or liquified natural gas (LNG), supplied from a fuel tender as an experiment in the early 1990s. The use of LNG had the potential for lower fuel costs, greater engine longevity, and cleaner exhaust emissions, but required extensively modified power assemblies and a new design of piston to maintain the engine's 3,000-horsepower rating. Larger flared radiators from retired SD45s were also installed on both units. An LNG fueling station was constructed in Staples, Minnesota, and the two DF40-2s were used in unit coal train service between Staples and Glendive, Montana. The experiments ended in 1996 and the two locomotives returned to regular service and their old diet of diesel fuel, though they retained the special paint schemes they received for the experimental program.

ATGX #5511 and #5513 are 3,000-horsepower C30-7s that were built by General Electric in April 1977 as Burlington Northern #5511 & #5513. They were retired in January 1999, sold to ATEL Leasing Corporation for lease service, and leased back by Burlington Northern Santa Fe.

Chasing BNSF 2099 on July 13, 1997

On July 13, 1997, my dad and I were railfanning with his friend Fred Anderson. We had been to Vancouver, Washington, earlier in the day before going to Portland, Oregon, but we ended up returning to Vancouver on our way home. Heading back to Vancouver's Amtrak station, we passed under the Sixth Street Viaduct just as the locomotives of a westbound Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight train were passing over it. I alone noticed that one of the locomotives was an EMD unit that was painted in the new orange and green paint scheme. At the time, the only locomotives we knew about in that scheme were the new GE Dash 9-44CWs. My dad didn't believe me, but we stopped to look anyway, and I was proven right.

The freight train had come to a stop, and the lead locomotive was indeed an EMD unit in the BNSF orange and green paint scheme.

This was Burlington Northern Santa Fe #2099, which was the first older locomotive to be repainted into this paint scheme. 

BNSF #2099 is a 2,000-horsepower GP38-2 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in November 1974 as Burlington Northern #2099.

The locomotive was painted by Mid-America Car, Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 25, 1996, and was still clean and shiny. BNSF might have been taking special care of it, as it was testing the Positive Train Separation satellite tracking system in the Pacific Northwest.

The second locomotive in the train's long consist was Burlington Northern Santa Fe #1021, a 4,400-horsepower Dash 9-44CW that was built by General Electric in October 1996. It clearly wasn't receiving the attention that BNSF #2099 was.

I took the opportunity to take as many pictures as I could of this unique locomotive.

Like the new Dash 9-44CWs, BNSF #2099 featured silver paint on its trucks, fuel tank and air reservoirs. The silver would be replaced by green on future repainted locomotives.

BNSF #2099 and its train were stopped in a position from which it could either turn south toward Portland or north toward Seattle.

We weren't sure how long BNSF #2099 would be waiting here, or which direction it would go when it resumed its journey. We waited at the Amtrak depot to find out.

It turned out that BNSF #2099 wasn't the only locomotive in Vancouver with an unusual paint scheme that day. Parked in the engine terminal was Burlington Northern #7812, a 3,000-horsepower SD40-2 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in June 1977 as Colorado & Southern #942. Colorado & Southern was a subsidiary of Burlington Northern, and its locomotives were painted in Burlington Northern colors, but they had their own numbering system. These locomotives began to be renumbered into the Burlington Northern's main numbering system in December 1978, and this locomotive became Burlington Northern #7812.

Oddly, Burlington Northern #7812 wore the "billboard" lettering usually found on BN GP50s. It turns out that this locomotive was involved in an accident along with a BN GP50. Both were repaired and repainted by a contract shop, which painted them both with the GP50-style lettering.

Another westbound BNSF freight train came along bound for Portland. It was led by BNSF #1050, a 4,400-horsepower Dash 9-44CW that was built by General Electric in November 1996.

The trailing unit in this train's locomotive consist was Norfolk Southern #3183 a 3,000-horsepower SD40 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in April 1971 as Southern Railway #3183. This locomotive technically wears the GSF reporting marks of the NS subsidiary Georgia & Southern Florida Railway.

A southbound Union Pacific freight train passed through, led by Union Pacific #9457, a 4,135-horsepower Dash 8-41CW that was built by General Electric in October 1991 as a Dash 8-40CW. It was redesignated as a Dash 8-41CW in September 1993.

The next train to arrive was Amtrak's northbound Coast Starlight.

The Coast Starlight was led by Amtrak #808, a 4,000-horsepower Dash 8-40BP (or B40-8P) that was built by General Electric in May 1993.

Following the Coast Starlight was a northbound Union Pacific freight train, led by Union Pacific #9736 is a 4,380-horsepower Dash 9-44CW that was built by General Electric in August 1994.

We saw BNSF #2099 get underway and head north, so we got into the car and hurried to the grade crossing at 39th Street.

This was a great opportunity for more pictures of this unique unit as is slowly passed by with its freight train.

Even some relatively close-up detail pictures were possible.

The low afternoon sun really lit up the orange paint and yellow striping.

While we waited for BNSF #2099's northbound train to clear the crossing, a southbound freight train came along, led by Burlington Northern #2889, a GP39M that was originally built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in February 1964 as Southern Pacific GP35 #6551. It was retired by Southern Pacific on November 15, 1990, and sold to Morrison-Knudsen on April 1, 1991, where it was rebuilt as BN GP39M #2889 and completed on August 20, 1991.

After the freight trains cleared the 39th Street grade crossing, we raced to Kalama, Washington, for another chance to photograph BNSF #2099. While we waited on the Oak Street Overpass, a southbound BNSF freight train came through, led by a Burlington Northern SD40-2, whose number I can't make out due to the speed of the train and the low light.

BNSF #2099 arrived with its northbound freight train, speeding through Kalama.

The train was going so fast that in this picture, only the front of the locomotive is in focus.

Between the setting sun and the fact that we were almost home, we gave up the chase here.