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BN 845
Going looking over the heritage of BN 845 built as GN F9B 470B I see it is one of 6 F9B's purchased by GN in 1954 and delivered in the classic Empire Builder scheme. GN never had an F9A, these 6 B-units were the only F9's on GN's roster. Another great oddity.
The 470B was based out of Spokane in the late 60's but made it out to Seattle often as I first saw it at Interbay 10-17-69 in the engine facility. On 2-1-70 I rode a GN passenger special to Leavenworth and a helper set at Skykomish was noted with the 468D/470B/472B/462D.
After the BN merger it was renumbered BN 845 but not until after I had seen it at Cashmere, WA on the head end of a westbound freight with 474A/468B/470B/462D once our passenger special had gotten into the clear after we detrained 3-14-70. I had noted the 470B in orange/green but not which scheme it was wearing! After asking on the GN Yahoo list I learned it was indeed painted into the GN's simplified scheme with a photo from 1969 as proof:
http://www.gn-npjointarchive.org/Lists/GN_Newby_Photos1/DispForm.aspx?ID=684"
I first saw the BN 845 on 1-17-74 as it arriving at Auburn, WA on train #175 with units 6519/2220/1781/845/753/702. The F9B had been painted green by this time (though the 753 and 702 were both in NP colors).
When did the 845 get painted BN green?
It was noted that there is a photo of BN 845 in the 1973 BN Annual at Minot, ND on 10-22-71 wearing fresh green paint. There is speculation it had been painted at the Dale Street shops in the Twin Cities and was headed west to its Vancouver assignment when photographed in Minot.
I photographed the BN 845 many times in Western Washington including these three angles:
BN 845 on train #143 2-22-80. Power was 1746/845/847/753/738 so I am guessing it was assigned to Auburn, WA at this time.
BN 845 at Seattle, WA 8-18-80. Train is Crew 3 with 708/845/738.
