You are here: Home > Northern Pacific Section > BN 203
BN 203
BN EMD SW1200 203 was built as the Northern Pacific 144 in July of 1956. The 144 was noted as being assigned to the Tacoma Division in 1969 working at Auburn, WA.
After the March 1970 BN merger the NP 144 was renumbered to BN 203 and was assigned to Auburn, WA for maintenance. Going through my notes I find the BN 203 in NP paint at Auburn 6-13-71.
By the time of my first photo at Tacoma, WA on 5-5-78 it had long been painted BN green. Note the two beehive spark arresters.
When I took my next photo of the 203, again at Tacoma, WA on 3-1-81 it has one silver and one black beehive spark arrestor. Other than that, not much change.
I got one last roster photo of the 203 in Seattle at Argo, WA 4-2-86. Now it has no spark arrestors.
BN retired the 203 in October 1987 and it was acquired by the new startup MRL in November 1987 where it ran as the MRL 203, still in BN green paint for less than a year. Here is a photo of the MRL 203 at Billings, MT in early 1988.
used with permission
In July 1988 the MRL 203 was renumbered 14 and painted blue. Here is a photo of the MRL 14 at Laurel, MT 8-13-88.
used with permission
While still on the MRL roster as of this September 2020 update, the 14 is stored inside the MRL shops at Livingston, MT and has not run in quite sometime..