Hello all I've been itching to model a BN passenger train. While I've heard of the Empire Builder under BN I know they must have operated some much shorter regional/local trains with fewer cars. So heres my question (well, a few questions). I have a P2K BN GP9, did Bn ever use GP9's on locals/commuters? And if they did, what cars would i expect to run? Would the trains be all in BN, or did the arrival of amtrak a year later mean that they ran "rainbow" trains on these locals? Even if its a fictional idea. COuld somebody tell me what kind of train would go with a BN GP9?
No details on what ran where, but yes, most BN passenger engines and cars didn't receive BN colors - except, of course, for Chicago commuter operations, and I've never seen anything but Es on those.
ok well after some reaserch i came up..... empty handed.... But i did come up with this. Not the most prototypical train ever but it works i guess. This consist i came up with is most likely unprototypical but lemme know what you guys think! 1.P2K BN GP9 #1941 2. Rapido Steam Genorator car Great northern #6 3. Broadway Limited Rock Island Express Refer (on interchange traffic) 4. Walthers 50' REA express refer Great northern 5. ACF 70' baggage Car Chicago Burlington and quincy 6. PS NYC 64 seat coach Great Northern 7. Budd 52 seat coach CB&Q 8. PS NYC 64 seat coach Northern Pacific and thats my version of a BN local passenger train during the mid 70's. what do you guys think? :tb-biggrin:
I have a couple of the BN annuals from the early 70's authored by F. Wagner I think his name is, and it shows alot of local and intercontinental passenger trains. Alot in the early 70's had a couple of TOFC's in the consists, usually at the end of the passenger trains. Also, I have just about all of the GN Color Guide books, and they show alot too.
Actually I have photo's somewhere in my binder of a few BN Geeps on Commuter cars. Albeit they weren't in service, they were setting them up. Mostly they had I think what were SW1200 switchers, but the occassional GP7/9 has popped up in Union Stations Yards. If I can find these photographs I'll get them for you. And if you're going to model prototypically, well, I don't give leighway on Chicago Commuters. I grew up looking at E-Units and I say they should only be E-Units laugh:
I know I've seen photos of the Duluth trains (Badger and Gopher) with a Geep and an E-unit togather. There were several regional trains around Minneapolis that ran with mixed consists of 3 - 5 cars in the late sixties - early seventies.
BN Passenger Trains Burlington Northern ran passenger service for just over a year before Amtrak took over in May 1971. The Chicago commuter trains were powered by E7,8, &9 units from what I can find out. The Empire Builder by 1970 was down to about a six or seven car train. The North Coast Limited also was just a shadow of what it once was. The California Zephyr was discontinued just three weeks after the BN merger and the Denver Zephyr was whittled to about a six or seven car train. Equipment from all four roads was mixed. Here on the west coast the silver Ex:CB&Q E units were a sight to see as were some CB&Q dome coaches. The Spokane Portland & Seattle had a mixed train on the Oregon Trunk between Wishram and Bend. It ran with freight power and had a combine used as a caboose and to handle passengers. It didn't survive Amtrak. In the mid 70's all passenger trains on the BN were Amtrak trains. Cars from all over were mixed into trains and it was really a "Rainbow" of colours until Amtrak got things painted.
well after some reaserch i found that my train i created above could acually be loosely based on a prototype! BN's Seattle-Portland trains! So heres how it would go (loosely) Head end cars (one or 2) Steam generator baggage car from second hand service (sometimes a heavyweight) 3 or 4 coaches a Cafe/bar/lounge these could be found in a multitude of colors form the prior railroads. here my representation. 1. a diesil of some sort (in my case the GP9 but my GP10 and GP15's might go sometimes) 2. A GN 50' ACF express refer (Walthers) 3. A Rock Island REA express refer (Broadway limited) 4. a GN steam generator car (Rapido) 5. A CB&Q 70' heavyweight baggage car. (Walthers) 6. a NP 64 seat coach (Walthers) 7. a GN 64 Seat coach (Walthers) 8. a CB&Q 52 seat budd coach (Walthers) 9. A GN Cafe/Bar/lounge car (Rapido) so what do you guys think of my fictional representation?
