Trains in Vancouver, Washington in September 2002

I took these pictures at the Amtrak depot in Vancouver, Washington, on September 6, 2002.

First, Amtrak Cascades #466 is a 3,200-horsepower F59PHI that was built in September 1998 by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors with final assembly by Super Steel Schenectady of Schenectady, Pennsylvania. It is leading southbound Cascades train #753 into the Vancouver depot. This train was due at Vancouver at 4:47 PM.

Bringing up the rear of Cascades train #753 is Amtrak Cascades #90251, a Non-Powered Cab Unit, or NPCU, which was rebuilt in December 1998 from Amtrak #251, a 3,000-horsepower F40PHR that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in October 1977 using parts from retired Amtrak SDP40F #575.

Leading a westbound train from Portland toward the Columbia River Gorge, Burlington Northern Santa Fe #8088 is a 3,000-horsepower SD40-2 that was built by the Diesel Division of General Motors of Canada, Ltd. in August 1979 as Burlington Northern #8088. Following the merger of the Burlington Northern and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe on September 22, 1995, this locomotive became Burlington Northern Santa Fe #8088 on April 20, 2001.

Trailing is Burlington Northern Santa Fe #7165 is a 3,000-horsepower SD40-2 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in May 1979. 

Following the merger of the Burlington Northern and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe on September 22, 1995, this locomotive became Burlington Northern Santa Fe #7165 on September 10, 1998.

Switching around the Vancouver depot, Burlington Northern Santa Fe #2087 is a 2,000-horsepower GP38-2 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in May 1972. Following the merger of the Burlington Northern and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe on September 22, 1995, this locomotive became Burlington Northern Santa Fe #2087 and was repainted into Burlington Northern Santa Fe's "Heritage I" paint scheme on August 16, 2000.

A consist of six BNSF road locomotives idled in the Vancouver yard near the depot. First is Burlington Northern Santa Fe #6841, a 3,000-horsepower SD40-2 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in July 1978 as St. Louis-San Francisco (also known as the Frisco) #951. The Frisco was merged into the Burlington Northern on November 21, 1980, and this locomotive became Burlington Northern #6841. Following the merger of the Burlington Northern and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe on September 22, 1995, this locomotive became Burlington Northern Santa Fe #6841.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe #6341 is a 3,000-horsepower SD40-2 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in November 1977 as Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe #5026. Following the merger of the Burlington Northern and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe on September 22, 1995, this locomotive became Burlington Northern Santa Fe #6341 on January 10, 1998, and was repainted into Burlington Northern Santa Fe's "Heritage I" paint scheme on February 17, 1999.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe #780 is a 4,400-horsepower Dash 9-44CW that was built by General Electric in September 1997.

Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe #639 is a 4,400-horsepower Dash 9-44CW that was built by General Electric in February 1994.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe #4551 is a 4,400-horsepower Dash 9-44CW that was built by General Electric in September 1999.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe #989 is a 4,400-horsepower Dash 9-44CW that was built by General Electric in August 1996.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe #2733 is a 2,000-horsepower GP39-2 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in April 1981 as Burlington Northern #2733. Following the merger of the Burlington Northern and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe on September 22, 1995, this locomotive became Burlington Northern Santa Fe #2733 and was repainted into Burlington Northern Santa Fe's "Heritage I" paint scheme on May 31, 2000.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe #3623 is a 1,000-horsepower SW1000 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in January 1971 as Burlington Northern #430 and classified as an SW10. Following the merger of the Burlington Northern and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe on September 22, 1995, this locomotive became Burlington Northern Santa Fe #3623 on October 5, 1998.

Here is another view of Burlington Northern Santa Fe #989 as the consist moved around the Vancouver yard.

This additional view of Burlington Northern Santa Fe #6341 clearly shows the 123” “Snoot Nose” low short hood of this former Santa Fe unit. Santa Fe had 40 SD40-2s built with 123” low short hoods to contain radio equipment for Locotrol, a remote-control system for mid-train and rear helper locomotives. On the Santa Fe’s 40 equipped units, the even numbered units were “masters,” while the odd numbered units were “remotes.”

Amtrak #45 is a 4,250-horsepower P42DC that was built by General Electric in January 1997. It is leading the northbound Coast Starlight, train #14, into Vancouver. The Coast Starlight was due into Vancouver at 4:23 PM, before Cascades train #753, but was apparently running late.

Trailing behind Amtrak P42DC #45 was an Amtrak F59PHI painted in Pacific Surfliner colors. The Pacific Surfliner service was established in 2000 between San Luis Obispo and San Diego, California, replacing the San Diegan service. A total of 15 of these 3,200-horsepower F59PHIs numbered 450 to 465 were built for Pacific Surfliner service in 1998 by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors with final assembly by Super Steel Schenectady of Schenectady, Pennsylvania. Aside from the paint scheme, they were identical to the Cascades F59PHI locomotives numbered 466 to 470. All of Amtrak’s F59PHIs were maintained in Los Angeles. When the Cascades F59PHIs needed major maintenance, they had to be transported to Los Angeles via the Coast Starlight. This Pacific Surfliner F59PHI may have been being transferred to the Pacific Northwest to fill in for a Cascades unit in need of maintenance in Los Angeles.

This Burlington Northern Santa Fe Police Ford Explorer was stationed near the Amtrak depot. In an interesting coincidence, the officer driving this vehicle was the husband of my Spanish teacher from my Junior year of high school.

Amtrak #161 is a 4,250-horsepower P42DC that was built by General Electric in May 2001. It is leading eastbound train #8, the Portland Section of the Empire Builder, into Vancouver. It was due into Vancouver at 5:07 PM. I would board this train for Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Railfanning in Vancouver, Washington, in August 1998

I took these pictures while railfanning at the Amtrak depot in Vancouver, Washington, in late April of 1998. First is a southbound freight train, led by Burlington Northern 3125, a 3,500-horsepower GP50 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in July 1985.

The second locomotive in this consist, Electro-Motive Leasing #789 is a 2,000-horsepower GP38-2 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in June 1972 as Penn Central #7989 and became Conrail #7989 in 1976. Originally financed under a lease arrangement, Conrail #7940-8039 were returned to EMD at the end of the lease period in 1987 and became part of the Electro-Motive Leasing fleet as EMDX #740-839, with their Conrail markings painted out and EMD logos applied. Many of these units were leased to Burlington Northern in 1992 and remained with Burlington Northern Santa Fe over the years, where they were referred to as GP38Es.

The trailing locomotive, Burlington Northern Santa Fe #2158 is a 2,000-horsepower GP38 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in May 1970 as Penn Central #7829 and became Conrail #7829 in 1976. Burlington Northern purchased it from Conrail in July 1985, and it became Burlington Northern #2158, and was reclassified as a GP38X. It kept its number through the Burlington Northern Santa Fe merger of September 22, 1995, being repainted to Burlington Northern Santa Fe's "Heritage I" paint scheme on March 25, 1998.

This train paused in front of the Vancouver depot, giving me an opportunity for more photographs of BNSF #2158. This was only the second former Burlington Northern locomotive I had seen that had been repainted in BNSF's orange and green colors. In addition to being repainted, it had also had its headlight relocated from above the cab to the nose, following Santa Fe practice.

Unlike BNSF's new orange and green Dash 9-44CWs and previously repainted GP38-2 #2099, which had silver fuel tanks and trucks, this unit fuel tank and trucks were painted green. This would be the standard for all future repaints as well.

In the Vancouver yard were a pair of Burlington Northern switchers with a crane. Starting on the right, Burlington Northern #428 is a 1,000-horsepower SW1000 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in January 1971. Burlington Northern classified it as an SW10. 

I believe the crane is Burlington Northern D-200, a 200-Ton Crane that was built by Industrial Works in Bay City, Michigan in 1927 as Great Northern X1745. It was one of the last pieces of equipment built by Industrial before merging with Brown Hoisting Machinery Company of Cleveland, Ohio, to form Industrial Brownhoist Corporation on September 26, 1927. Originally steam-powered, it was later converted to diesel power. Initially assigned Burlington Northern #972013 on June 9, 1972, it was renumbered to Burlington Northern D-200 on July 10, 1972. It was initially retired in October 1987, but was reinstated in June 1988 and remained in service for at least another decade, as seen here. 

Finally, Burlington Northern Santa Fe #3603 is a 1,000-horsepower SW1000 that was originally built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in February 1972 as Burlington Northern #378. Following the merger of the Burlington Northern and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe on September 22, 1995, this locomotive was renumbered to BNSF #3603 on May 17, 1998. Burlington Northern and Burlington Northern Santa Fe classified it as an SW10.

Railfanning in Vancouver, Washington, in Summer 1998

I took these pictures while railfanning with my dad in Vancouver, Washington, in the summer of 1998. First, arriving at the Vancouver depot with the southbound Coast Starlight, is Amtrak #120, a 4,250-horsepower P42DC that was built by General Electric in September 1997.

Leading a northbound freight train past the Vancouver Amtrak depot, Burlington Northern #2073 is a 2,000-horsepower GP38 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in February 1970. This locomotive was the second of six GP38s originally ordered by the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway and was intended to be SP&S #201. With the SP&S to become part of the Burlington Northern on March 2, 1970, these six locomotives ended up being the first locomotives delivered in Burlington Northern colors.

At the railroad crossing at 39th Street in Vancouver, we saw a pair of brand-new locomotives. Burlington Northern Santa Fe #4814 is a 4,400-horsepower Dash 9-44CW that was built by General Electric in July 1998.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe #4815 Dash 9-44CW is another 4,400-horsepower Dash 9-44CW that was built by General Electric in July 1998. These two locomotives were part of a group that were delivered in orange and green paint but without their yellow reflective striping and lettering, because Burlington Northern Santa Fe was in a hurry to place them in service. The resulting temporary look was reminiscent of the Great Northern's "simplified" paint scheme from the mid-1960s.

Also at 39th Street was Burlington Northern #3603, a 1,000-horsepower SW1000 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in February 1972 as Burlington Northern #378. Following the merger of the Burlington Northern and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe on September 22, 1995, this locomotive was renumbered to BNSF #3603 on May 17, 1998. Burlington Northern and Burlington Northern Santa Fe classified it as an SW10.

Railfanning in Portland, Oregon, in March, 1997

These pictures were taken while railfanning in Portland, Oregon, in March, 1997. Starting at Burlington Northern's Hoyt Street Yard, we find Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe #606, a 4,380-horsepower Dash 9-44CW that was built by General Electric in February 1994. Before the BNSF merger, Santa Fe's "Warbonnet" locomotives were rarely seen in the Pacific Northwest, but since the merger they were becoming somewhat more common.

A pair of switchers were parked at the Hoyt Street sand tower. Burlington Northern #214 is a 1,200-horsepower SW1200 (or SW12, as BN classified it) that was originally built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in July 1957 as Northern Pacific #155. The Northern Pacific was merged into Burlington Northern in March 1970. Burlington Northern #387 is a 1,000-horsepower SW1000 (or SW10, as BN classified it) that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in 1972.

Moving on to Union Pacific's Albina Yard, Chicago & North Western #8037 is a 3,800-horsepower SD60 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in September 1986. The Chicago & North Western was merged into the Union Pacific in April 1995.

Southern Pacific #6802 is a 3,600-horsepower SD45T-2R. It was originally built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in May, 1972, as Southern Pacific SD45T-2 #9246. In March, 1987, it was rebuilt by Southern Pacific's Sacramento Shops as an SD45T-2R and was renumbered to Southern Pacific #6802. Southern Pacific was merged into Union Pacific in September 1996.

Union Pacific #1302 is a 1,500-horsepower MP15DC that was originally built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in June 1974 as Pittsburgh & Lake Erie #1575. It was purchased by Union Pacific in December 1984 and was delivered in mid-February 1985, initially becoming Union Pacific #1277 and operating in its P&LE black paint. It was painted in Union Pacific colors and renumbered to Union Pacific #1002 in May 1985, and was again renumbered to Union Pacific #1302 in June 1987.

Union Pacific #5031 is a 3,600-horsepower SD50 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in December 1984. It was originally delivered in Union Pacific colors but with Missouri Pacific lettering. It was relettered for Union Pacific in August 1990.

Union Pacific #6325 is a 3,800-horsepower SD60M that was built by the General Motors Locomotive Group in London, Ontario, in September 1992.

Here is another, better picture of Union Pacific SD60M #6325.