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BN 5703

At the time of the 1970 merger GN's 15 U33C's 2530-2544 became BN 5700-5714. Here is BN 5703 at the former Great Northern Interbay facility 12-10-79, built as the GN 2533 in May of 1968.

Delivered in Big Sky Blue, it was part of GN's first order of U33C's numbered 2530-2538.

I never did see the GN 2533 and it was renumbered pretty quickly after the March 1970 merger. I did see it 3 months later on 6-15-70 arriving at Interbay on a westbound led by BN units 5663/5662/5703 (U28C/U28C/U33C). The two U28C's were still in Burlington colors and the 5703 big sky blue. Those first few years after the BN merger all 15 ex-GN U33C's were assigned to the former NP shops at Livingston, MT through at least the mid-1970's where the 5703 was no doubt painted BN green.

I photographed the 5703 a few times including train #83 with U-boats 5703/5606 arriving at Interbay 7-16-79.

Here is probably one of my favorite photos of a U33C. The 5703 at Interbay going through the washracks on 12-10-79.

And afterwards looking really nice and clean. Very thoughtful of BN to wash that UP SD40-2!

The 5703 along with the other ex-GN U33C's of the first order were all retired in 1983, after just 15 years of service (and probably some of that in storage at the end) These U33C's went to the lesser in 1983 and presumably scrapped shortly afterwards. Kind of sad that none were saved but at least we still have photos to remember them by.