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BN 6444
BN 6444 was built by EMD as GN 414. It was part of the second order of Great Northern SD45's built in April of 1967 and numbered 408-417. These ten SD45's were all delivered in GN's orange and green simplified paint scheme and assigned to Havre, MT for the transcontinental freight pool.
On 8-9-69 my dad took me up to Skykomsh and we followed GN #97 to Baring where it took the siding to meet the eastbound Empire Builder. #97 that day had SD45's 414/411/417. All three were from the same order and still orange and green.
After the March 1970 BN merger the GN 414 was renumbered to BN 6444. I purchased an eBay slide showing the 6444 still in orange and green at Pueblo, CO 3-6-73.
Brian Ambrose collection
After it was repainted BN green I photographed the 6444 myself at Interbay, WA on 3-12-81.
A few differences are noted such as the dent in the side of the nose of the orange and green SD45. Does not appear to be there after repainting. Rooftop flashers are different . Also noted changes in the trucks as well.
BN retired the 6444 in 1986 and it was scrapped by BN at Havre, MT in August of 1986.