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BN 7899

BN SD40-2 7899 was built by EMD in June of 1979 as the C&S 7899, one of a group of C&S sublettered SD40-2's numbered 7869-7923. All of these SD40-2's were intended for coal service but did see some general freight service as well. After 1980 the C&S sublettering was removed making them fully BN units.

I first saw the 7899 on 3-6-81 leading train 139 with units 7899/WP 3558/2515/WP 3055/UP 3542 (SD40-2/GP40-2/GP35/U30B/SD40-2) at Tacoma, WA. I also photographed the train that day as well.

Three years later the 7899 was trailing unit on an eastbound coal train just out of Motley, MN (east of Staples) about 01:00 AM headed for Superior, WA when rounding a curve and starting down a long straight stretch came face to face with a westbound empty coal train headed towards Staples. Unable to stop both struck head on at a combined speed of 70 MPH. All six units from both trains were destroyed and three crewman killed and three more injured. A lap order had been issued to both trains by a dispatcher in error with the result being two trains on the same track at the same time. For the record, these are the two trains involved and locomotives destroyed:

BN 7907 East 7907/5136/7899 (SD40-2/C30-7/SD40-2)

BN 6760 West 6760/6765/7241 (SD40-2/SD40-2/SD40-2)