You are here: Home > Burlington Northern Section > BN 9261

BN 9261

Passing through South Seattle, WA on 7-16-11 I spotted a former BN SD60M as the trailing unit on a southbound train tied up along Airport Way. It was the BNSF 8161 and after stopping got a few photos of it.

Here is some information on this locomotive:

BN SD60M 9261 was built by EMD in January of 1991 as part of a second order of SD60M's numbered 9250-9298. They were all assigned to Glendive, MT along with SD60M 1991 (built at the same time) where the 9261 and the other SD60M's spent most of their time hauling coal trains. In all of my trips to coal country I never did photograph the BN 9261.

After the BNSF merger it was relettered for BNSF but kept the same number until brand new BNSF GEVO's being delivered in the 9200 series meant it needed to be renumbered. The SD60M's got 8100 series numbers so the 9261 became the 8161. All of the SD60M's spent some time in storage but many have since been reactivated, including the 8161. How long it will stay in active service is unknown but I am glad I got the chance to photograph it.