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BN 6459
BN SD45 6459 was built in January of 1969 as CB&Q 518, one of the Burlington Route's fifteen SD45's numbered 516-530.
Fourteen months after they were delivered the BN merger occurred in March 1970 and the Q518 was renumbered to BN 6459 and assigned to Havre, MT along with the other ex-CB&Q SD45's.
My notes show I did not see the 6459 until 5-14-73 at Interbay when BN westbound #81 arrived with the 6459/6311 (SD45/SD40) and the notes also say the 6459 was BN green at that time.
My one and only photo of the 6459 came on 7-18-79 in Seattle and that was on the Union Pacific when BN SD45's 6567/6459/6536 were photographed in the UP engine facility after coming in on a northbound UP freight. Note the nose headlight from it's Q days has been removed.
The 6459 was retired by the BN in February 1984 and sold to the CNW 7/84 and renumbered C&NW 6578. This photo from rrpicturearchives at Butler, WI 3-14-85 shows the C&NW 6578 still in BN green and with that missing nose light.
The CNW 6578 was only active for two years and was retired 8/86. The ex-Q SD45 was sent to St Louis Auto Shredding at Madison, IL and scrapped.