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BN 6488
BN SD45 6488 was one of twenty SD45's numbered 6472-6491 ordered by the Northern Pacific just before the BN merger and was originally intended to become NP 3646. When built in July 1970 the SD45 was instead painted BN green and numbered BN 6488. After delivery the new SD45's were assigned to Havre, MT where they worked mainly in the Seattle/Portland to Chicago pool.
I first photographed the 6488 at Interbay, WA on 9-10-77 in a set of three SD45's, 6548/6488/6482. The 6482 also came from that original NP order of SD45's.
Four years later on 5-5-81 I photographed the 6488 again at Interbay but from the other side.
BN retired the 6488 in June 1985 and it was leased to the CNW in December that same year. The 6488 was purchased by the CNW 9/86 but it was never renumbered or relettered for CNW. CNW retired the 6488 in November of 1987. This photo on rrpicturearchives by Marty Bernard shows the 6488 stored on the CNW in February of 1987. Note that the number boards have been removed.
The 6488 was sent to a scrapper in Illinois where it was cut up. Normally the story of the BN 6488 would end here but checking eBay last week I noticed a number board for the 6488 was up for bid. I immediately purchased it and now have it in my collection. The BN 6488 may be long gone, having been cut up and scrapped 32 years ago but a part of it remains and is now preserved.
