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BN 2709

BN GP39-2 2709 was built in March of 1981. In all 40 GP39-2's, a new model by EMD for the BN were numbered 2700-2739 and delivered to BN that year. As they replaced many of BN's F-units which were quickly retired as more GP39-2's were delivered, they were nicknamed "wagon killers" as BN's covered wagon F-units were sidelined.

Most of the BN's 2700 series GP39-2's were initially assigned to Vancouver, WA and worked in the Northwest. I first saw and photographed the BN 2709 on 4-18-81, just a month old at Argo, WA on train 139 with five brand new GP39-2's 2701/2709/2704/2711/2713

The 2709 continued to work on the BN and at the time of the BNSF merger in 1996 was renumbered to BNSF 2709 in September of 2000 and was repainted into BNSF H1 scheme at the same time.and remained primarily in the Everett, WA area, an example seen here in a photo from rrpicturearchives.. http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2694583

The 2709 was later painted into BNSF's current orange and black H3/swoosh scheme and I photographed it at South Seattle, WA on 8-5-20 so these photos are three years old already.

I have not heard of the 2709's disposition recently so chances are it is still working for the BNSF in switching or local service.