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BN 6452

BN 6452 was built as Great Northern SD45 422 in July of 1968. Delivered in GN's Big Sky Blue it was part of the final group of 9 SD45's numbered 418-426 that GN purchased before ordering F45's in 1969.

I did not see very many of GN's SD45's before the BN merger, 422 included. But soon after on 9-20-70 (same day I first saw BN 6474 in a previous update) the now renumbered BN 6452 was at Interbay in the company of other renumbered predecessor road locomotives. At least it was on home turf.

A few years later on 5-27-72 I saw the BN 6452 again, still in Great Northern's sky blue but on former Northern Pacific territory at Easton, WA. Units 6452/6537/735/743/725/1849/1724 (2 SD45's/3 F7B's/2 GP9's) were leading BN train #174 and it was stopped when I photographed the lead unit with my primitive little camera. Right after taking this picture I was invited up into the cab of the 6452 and even got to take a little ride as they did some switching.

It along with most of the other SD45's were assigned to the former GN Havre shops during the 1970's. Eventually the BN 6452 got a coat of green paint and I later photographed it on 6-27-78 at Interbay looking pretty good for being 10 years old.

On July 1, 1980 I photographed the 6452 leading westbound BN train #77 into Skykomish, WA. Here it is stopped in front of the ex-GN depot.

This is my last photo of the BN 6452, a roster at Skykomish before the train departed west for Seattle.

In August of 1983 the 6452 was returned to the lessor along with the other 8 SD45's GN had acquired at the same time as the GN 422. All ended up on the CNW with the BN 6452 being renumbered CNW 6571 shortly after arrival. I have been unable to find any photos of it on the CNW but it was apparently not there very long. Last information shows the SD45 being rebuilt to an SD40M-2 and being sold to the CSX as their 8485. But photos of the CSX 8485 show it with an SD40 carbody and painted in the latest dark blue CSX scheme. If this is truly the former GN 422 its outward appearance has changed considerably as it looks very little like the SD45 it was built as!