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BN 1714

After the delivery of 17 GP9's Northern Pacific placed another order with EMD for 24 more 1750 HP GP9's in February of 1955 to be numbered 218-242. Of these, all but the 241 and 242 were to be delivered without dynamic brakes.

NP 241 was built 8/1955 and with the 242 assigned to the Rocky Mountain Division to work out of Livingston, MT where the dynamic brakes could be put to good use.

In checking over my NP roster of units seen, the 241 is not among them so I have no record of the 241 before the BN merger.

I have found only one photo of the NP 241 and that was taken by Ron Nixon in 1963 on a work train in Idaho.

http://muse.museum.montana.edu/rvndb/rvnjpeg_img_rec.php?objno=RVN27092

In later photos taken after the BN merger the question of what final NP paint scheme the 241 wore is answered by the missing louvers on the long hood indicating it was painted in the NP's simplified scheme before the merger.

It was after the BN merger on 6-19-72 when I first saw the renumbered and repainted BN 1714 at Livingston, MT. The BN 1714 remained assigned to Livingston, MT many years after the BN merger. According to the LCSR book "High Road to Leadville" the 1714's high short hood was lowered in 1976 after being damaged in an accident.

I have no photos of it in BN green but have found some online. Here it is at Glasgow, MT 1-17-83.

http://www.trainpix.com/bn/EMDORIG/GP9/1714.HTM

The 1714 was retired 12-1-86 and donated along with BN GP9 1918 to The Leadville, Colorado and Southern Railroad on 12-13-87 when BN sold the branch line to a Leadville, CO couple for $10 including all of the equipment run on the tourist line today. The 1714 was repainted into new colors for the operation.

The Dons Depot website has some good info and photos of the tourist operation.

http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr322.htm

And of course there are photos on the RRPA site as well.

Earlier this year Athearn announced a run of HO GP9's in NP colors with 4 different numbers. One was NP 333 so I did some research on that GP9 and discovered it was Leadville as the LCSR 1918 along with the 1714. After reading up on the tourist line, and learning a cab ride on the 1714 could be had for an extra $40 over the regular fare, I had motivation to go to Colorado. September was chosen for the off peak season and hoped for nice weather. So I made all my reservations and I was more than ready to go.

I flew into Denver Friday 9-14-12 and drove the 120 miles or so west to Leadville and checked into a motel for the night. The next morning I was enjoying the sunny start to the day and ready for the empty train to be brought to the depot for loading. Here are a few photos of the 1714 slowly moving to the depot and waiting for the passengers to board.

Leaving Leadville I rode in the open car behind the 1714 as it shoved the train up the hill. That GP9 sounded great!

One thing I had not considered was an early Autumn here in Colorado. It was beautiful! After stopping near the top of the grade I joined the engineer in the cab of the 1714 for the ride back to Leadville. Here I was riding in a former NP GP9 in spectacular scenery. A few photos heading down the hill in dynamic brakes.

The ride was over far too soon but it was an experience I will not forget. Word is the 1918 might be used as the trains road power next year so another trip might be in order to ride the ex-BN 1918.