BNSF SD40-2 #6731 in Wishram, Washington, in Fall 2003

 

Photo by Cliff West

BNSF #6731 is a 3,000-horsepower SD40-2 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in September 1979 as Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe #5072. Following the merger of the Burlington Northern and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe on September 22, 1995, this locomotive became Burlington Northern Santa Fe #6731 on March 12, 1999. My dad, Cliff West, photographed it at Wishram, Washington, in the fall of 2003.

Great Northern P-2 4-8-2 #2507 in Wishram, Washington on September 4, 2003

While riding the Portland section of Amtrak’s eastbound Empire Builder through Wishram, Washington, on September 4, 2003, I took this picture of former Great Northern Railway steam locomotive #2507 in a small park near the depot. This locomotive was one of 28 Class P-2 4-8-2 Mountain-type locomotives delivered to Great Northern by the Baldwin Locomotive Works. These locomotives were originally assigned to passenger service and were the initial power for the Empire Builder when it was inaugurated in June, 1929, but were replaced in Empire Builder service in 1930 by 14 new Baldwin Class S-2 4-8-4 Northern-type locomotives that pulled the Empire Builder until it was streamlined and dieselized in 1947. The Class P-2 Mountains were then assigned to freight service until their retirement in 1955. After its retirement, #2507 was put into storage in Minnesota instead of being immediately scrapped. Meanwhile, the Spokane, Portland & Seattle promised a steam locomotive to Klickitat County for display at Maryhill, only to end up having no steam locomotives left; #700 had been given to the city of Portland, #539 to the city of Vancouver, and the rest sold for scrap. To save face, the SP&S purchased #2507 from parent Great Northern, repainted it with SP&S lettering, and donated it to Klickitat County in 1962. For 30 years, #2507 sat on display in Maryhill in SP&S paint. An attempted restoration saw #2507 painted back to GN in 1992, and in 1994 it was moved from Maryhill to Pasco to be restored to operation. No restoration ever occurred, and eventually Klickitat County decided to put the locomotive back on permanent display. Track realignments had made a return to Maryhill impractical, so a new site in Wishram was chosen. The locomotive was given a complete cosmetic restoration and a structure was built to protect the locomotive from the elements. BNSF donated the locomotive's move from Pasco to Wishram.

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 the Columbia River Gorge in Fall 2002

This group of pictures was taken by my dad, Cliff West, while railfanning with Fred Anderson in the Columbia River Gorge in the fall of 2002. These Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight trains were seen in and just west of Wishram, Washington.

Photo by Cliff West

Burlington Northern Santa Fe #755 is a 4,400-horsepower Dash 9-44CW that was built by General Electric in August 1997. It is painted in the BNSF version of the Santa Fe “Warbonnet” colors with small initials on the long hood.

Photo by Cliff West

This locomotive was part of the first order to be delivered in this variation.

Photo by Cliff West

Burlington Northern Santa Fe #4423 is a 4,400-horsepower Dash 9-44CW that was built by General Electric in April 1999.

Photo by Cliff West

Burlington Northern Santa Fe #5298 is a 4,400-horsepower Dash 9-44CW that was built by General Electric in June 2001.

Photo by Cliff West

A vintage diesel locomotive and caboose were under restoration for static display at the site of the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center Museum in Stevenson, Washington. This locomotive was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in LaGrange, Illinois as a 1,750-horsepower F9A for the Northern Pacific Railway in March 1956. It was originally numbered #7013D and was a freight locomotive on the Northern Pacific Railway. In April 1965 it was reassigned to passenger service and renumbered #6704A, (taking the number of another 1956 F9A that had been reassigned to freight service and renumbered to #7052A in 1960). As #6704A, one of its assignments was to pull the Vista Dome North Coast Limited between Chicago and Seattle. The Northern Pacific became part of the Burlington Northern in March 1970, and the locomotive became Burlington Northern #9816. Amtrak took over passenger service in 1971 and the locomotive was reassigned back to freight service. In June 1973 it was renumbered to Burlington Northern #782. In December 1981 it was converted to Rotary Snowplow Power Unit (RSPU) #972569 and used in the Midwest. It was retired in 1998 and Burlington Northern Santa Fe donated the empty carbody to the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center Museum for static display. The museum restored the unit as Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway #802. The real SP&S #802 was an earlier 1,500-horsepower F3A built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in November 1948. The Spokane, Portland & Seattle did not own any F9As. When SP&S became part of Burlington Northern, SP&S #802 became Burlington Northern #9752. In July 1972 it became Rotary Snowplow Power Unit #972551, but a locomotive shortage returned it to service as locomotive #9752 in 1974. It was renumbered to #712 in 1976 and was retired in November 1981 and scrapped.

Photo by Cliff West

The diesel locomotive is accompanied by this wooden caboose, which was built in 1947 for the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway as #701. It came to the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center Museum before the locomotive.

NRM Observation Car #2955 "James J. Gilmore"

Pictured in Wishram, Washington, in the consist of an excursion train with Southern Pacific Daylight GS-4 #4449, Southern Pacific streamlined Parlor/Lounge Observation Car #2955 was built by the Pullman-Standard Company in July 1941 for use on the Morning Daylight between Los Angeles & San Francisco, the same service #4449 was used in, and #4449 almost certainly pulled #2955 at some point in regular service. In July 1949, #2955 was transferred to the Shasta Daylight between Oakland and Portland. It was converted to a 72-seat coach in 1960. Most of #2955's sister cars were rebuilt into full-dome cars by Southern Pacific's Sacramento Shops; #2955 is one of only two to remain as round-end cars. 

After Southern Pacific retired it, the car was acquired by the Stockton Terminal & Eastern Railroad and ended up being heavily vandalized. The car was acquired by the Northwest Rail Museum of Portland in 1988 and restored to its original Daylight colors. It is named James J. Gilmore after a volunteer who worked on the car but passed away before having the opportunity to enjoy it in excursion service. It is the only former Southern Pacific round-end observation car remaining in service. 

NRM Coach #2202

Pictured in Wishram, Washington, in the consist of an excursion train with Southern Pacific Daylight GS-4 #4449, Lightweight Coach #2202 was originally built by Pullman-Standard in February-March 1937 as Southern Pacific #2401. It and its sister car, #2400, were built for the original Daylight between Los Angeles and San Francisco. These two cars featured revenue seating for 48 passengers and a 5-seat smoking lounge. In June 1939, coaches #2400 & #2401 were transferred to the Texas & New Orleans Sunbeam in exchange for two T&NO articulated coaches, due to the fact that the Daylight was operating at capacity but the Sunbeam was not. This would increase the capacity of the Daylight and decrease the capacity of the Sunbeam by 52 seats. SP #2400 & #2401 became T&NO #452 & #453. In April 1956, T&NO #452 & #453 were transferred back to Southern Pacific. By this time their original numbers had been filled by new cars, so they became Southern Pacific #2201 & #2202. 

In April 1965, Southern Pacific’s Sacramento Shops converted #2202 to a high-density 122-seat commuter coach for service between San Francisco and San Jose. Southern Pacific planned to convert other coaches in this matter, but they were needed in general service, and #2202 was the only car converted. It was retired in 1971. This car was acquired by the Northwest Rail Museum and was used on various excursions in the Portland area.

WPRR Baggage Car #262

Pictured in Wishram, Washington, in the consist of an excursion train with Southern Pacific Daylight GS-4 #4449, Willamette & Pacific Baggage Car #262 was originally rebuilt by Great Northern from a heavyweight passenger car into a 74’ baggage car in 1945. After the Great Northern was merged into Burlington Northern on March 2, 1970, it was assigned Burlington Northern #781, though that number may not have been applied before Amtrak took over passenger service in 1971. This car was retained by Burlington Northern and was assigned to maintenance of way service and renumbered to #976081.

After being retired by Burlington Northern, it was operated by the Friends of SP 4449. It was painted in Southern Pacific Daylight colors with Willamette & Pacific lettering around 1995 for use in special promotional trains on the Willamette & Pacific which were pulled by 4449 (which was also so lettered, albeit temporarily).

HUNX Dome Coach #7003

Pictured in Wishram, Washington, in the consist of an excursion train with Southern Pacific Daylight GS-4 #4449, this car was built by American Car & Foundry in 1955 as Union Pacific #7003 and assigned to the Challenger between Chicago and Los Angeles. It was sold to Auto-Train in June 1972 and became Auto-Train #703. 

In December 1981 it was sold to James E. Strates Shows and was resold to a private party in 1982 before being acquired by the Collis P. Huntington Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society the same year. Initially assigned #800377 and given the name Sandstone Falls, it was later restored in 1993 to its original appearance as HUNX #7003.

NSR Coach #713

Pictured in Wishram, Washington, in the consist of an excursion train with Southern Pacific Daylight GS-4 #4449, Coach #713 is constructed of aluminum-alloy with polished fluted side panels, and was originally built by American Car & Foundry in 1946 as Louisville & Nashville #3200 for use on the Humming Bird between Cincinnati and New Orleans. It was later sold to the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie for commuter service in the Pittsburgh area and became P&LE #400. The P&LE commuter service made its last run on July 12, 1985, and the car was sold to the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society for use with Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 #765 and was numbered #713. In 1993, Nickel Plate #765 was taken out of excursion service due to a needed overhaul. This car was subsequently sold to North Star Rail in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for use with Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 #261. As seen here, it was also used for other excursions when not needed for #261.

NSR Coach #711

Pictured in Wishram, Washington, in the consist of an excursion train with Southern Pacific Daylight GS-4 #4449, Coach #711 is constructed of aluminum-alloy with polished fluted side panels, and was originally built by American Car & Foundry in 1946 as Louisville & Nashville #3203 for use on the Humming Bird between Cincinnati and New Orleans. It was later sold to the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie for commuter service in the Pittsburgh area and became P&LE #403. The P&LE commuter service made its last run on July 12, 1985, and the car was sold to the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society for use with Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 #765 and was numbered #711. In 1993, Nickel Plate #765 was taken out of excursion service due to a needed overhaul. This car was subsequently sold to North Star Rail in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for use with Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 #261. As seen here, it was also used for other excursions when not needed for #261.

DLMX Baggage Car #5659 "Better Idea"

Pictured in Wishram, Washington, in the consist of an excursion train with Southern Pacific Daylight GS-4 #4449, DLMX #5659 Better Idea was built by American Car & Foundry in April, 1954 as Union Pacific Baggage Car #5659. It was renumbered to UP #24427 in April 1969 and to UP Maintenance of Way #904227 in 1975. It was purchased from Union Pacific by the Friends of SP #4449. (According to their website, they purchased it in July, 1997, but here they were using it in June, 1997.)

BKSX Coach #4734

Pictured in Wishram, Washington, in the consist of an excursion train with Southern Pacific Daylight GS-4 #4449, BKSX Coach #4734 was built by the Budd Company in 1953 as Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe 48-Seat Coach #2849. It later became Amtrak #4861. In 1980, Amtrak rebuilt it with Head-End Power and it became Amtrak #4734. It was retired by Amtrak in 1995. At this point it was being operated as a RailVentures/Montana Daylight car.

BKSX Dome Coach #9410

Pictured in Wishram, Washington, in the consist of an excursion train with Southern Pacific Daylight GS-4 #4449, BKSX Dome Coach #9410 was built by the Budd Company in 1955 as Great Northern #1331 for the Empire Builder. It was assigned Burlington Northern #4611, but never received it before becoming Amtrak #9471. It was renumbered #9410 in January 1984 when it was converted to Head-End Power. It was retired in 1995 and sold to become a RailVentures/Montana Daylight car.

BKSX Dome Coach #9407

Pictured in Wishram, Washington, in the consist of an excursion train with Southern Pacific Daylight GS-4 #4449, BKSX Dome Coach #9407 was built by the Budd Company in July 1954 as Northern Pacific #550 for the Vista Dome North Coast Limited. It was assigned Burlington Northern #4617, but never received it before becoming Amtrak #9477. It was renumbered #9407 in October 1983 when it was converted to Head-End Power. It was retired and sold in May 1995 to become a RailVentures/Montana Daylight car.

BKSX Coach #4001

Pictured in Wishram, Washington, in the consist of an excursion train with Southern Pacific Daylight GS-4 #4449, BKSX Coach #4001 was built by the Budd Company in 1950 as Southern Pacific 44-Seat Coach #2367 for the Sunset Limited. In 1951 it was renumbered to Texas & New Orleans #440, and in 1961 it was renumbered to SP #2228. It later became Amtrak #4415. In 1980, Amtrak rebuilt it as a 40-Seat ADA Coach with Head-End Power and it became Amtrak #4001. It was retired by Amtrak in 1995. At this point it was being operated as a RailVentures/Montana Daylight car.

BKSX Coach #4700

Pictured in Wishram, Washington, in the consist of an excursion train with Southern Pacific Daylight GS-4 #4449, BKSX Coach #4700 was built by the Budd Company in 1953 as Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe 48-Seat Coach #2823. It later became Amtrak #4817. In 1980, Amtrak rebuilt it with Head-End Power and it became Amtrak #4700. It was retired by Amtrak in 1995. At this point it was being operated as a RailVentures/Montana Daylight car.

BKSX Coach #4013

Pictured in Wishram, Washington, in the consist of an excursion train with Southern Pacific Daylight GS-4 #4449, BKSX Coach #4013 was built by the Budd Company in 1950 as Southern Pacific 44-Seat Coach #2370 for the Sunset Limited. In 1951 it was renumbered to Texas & New Orleans #443, and in 1961 it was renumbered to SP #2231. It later became Amtrak #4418. In 1981, Amtrak rebuilt it as a 40-Seat ADA Coach with Head-End Power and it became Amtrak #4013. It was retired by Amtrak in 1995. At this point it was being operated as a RailVentures/Montana Daylight car.

BKSX Dome Coach #9544 "Silver Scene"

Pictured in Wishram, Washington, in the consist of an excursion train with Southern Pacific Daylight GS-4 #4449, BKSX Dome Coach #9544 Silver Scene was built by the Budd Company in 1947 as Chicago, Burlington & Quincy #4729 for the Twin Cities Zephyr. It became Burlington Northern #5484 and then Amtrak #9544. It was retired in December 1983 and passed through a series of owners, by this time being operated as a RailVentures/Montana Daylight car.

WPRX Power Car #104

Pictured in Wishram, Washington, in the consist of an excursion train with Southern Pacific Daylight GS-4 #4449, WPRX Power Car #104 was originally built by National Steel Car in 1957 as Canadian National Baggage Car #9261. In 1968 it was rebuilt as Power Car #15300 and was later transferred to VIA Rail as its #15300. At this point it had been retired by VIA Rail and was being operated as a RailVentures/Montana Daylight car.

DLMX Crew Sleeper #9201 "Clackamas River"

Pictured in Wishram, Washington, in the consist of an excursion train with Southern Pacific Daylight GS-4 #4449, #4449’s crew sleeper #9201, the Clackamas River, was built by Pullman in 1941 for the Southern Pacific, Union Pacific and Chicago & North Western's City of San Francisco as 10 roomette-5 bedroom sleeper Rincon Hill. It was transferred to Southern Pacific in 1947 as #9201 and was retired in 1966. The Friends of SP 4449 acquired it in 1990 from a private individual in North Dakota. Though it is a Southern Pacific car, the Daylight paint isn't correct as it was only used on day trains, not sleeping cars.