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BN 6492

The CB&Q had six SD45's on order before the BN merger took place. They were to be numbered Q 531-536. When delivered in August 1970 they were painted in BN's green and black rather than in CB&Q colors and numbered 6492-6497. The BN 6492 was the first unit of this CB&Q order. Missing was the CB&Q standard nose mounted headlight with the headlights placed between the number boards. Another change was the addition of extra cab side windows as seen on Northern Pacific's SD45's which the Burlington SD45's previously built did not have.

The 6492 and other six Q ordered SD45's were assigned to Havre, MT on the ex-GN and used in the transcontinental pool between Seattle and Chicago.

The first time I saw the BN 6492 was on 1-2-72 leading a westbound freight into Skykomish, WA with units 6492/5729/6485/5749/2217/806 (SD45/U33C/SD45/U33C/GP30/F9A)

My first photo of the 6492 was taken on 12-20-77 leading a westbound detour train that had come across Milwaukee Road's Snoqualmie Pass as Stampede Pass had been closed due to a washout. Here BN train 175 is arriving at Black River, WA with units 6492/6519/6925/1779 (SD45/SD45/SD40-2/GP9)

Sometime in the early 1980's the 6492 was working as a helper unit in Colorado when it derailed and was heavily damaged. The SD45 was not scrapped but repaired and returned to service.

I caught the 6492 on 6-15-82 northbound leading a detoured train 97 at South Seattle, WA with units 6492/6457/6446/5399 (SD45/SD45/SD45/U30C). My notes say a derrick train led by SD45 6493 derailed on a damaged grade crossing in Sultan, WA on the ex-GN Stevens Pass line so trains detoured over Stampede Pass for a few days.

Note that the extra side cab windows were omitted when the 6492 was repaired after the Colorado accident. From South Seattle I headed up to Argo for another photo of the detour train.

I roster shot the 6492 on 6-4-85 at South Seattle, WA. Looks like it was set up to lead an intermodal out of South Seattle that night.

That was the last time that I saw the 6492. It was retired by BN a little over a year later on 7-16-86 and sent to St Louis Shredding and scrapped.