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BN 5624

BN 5624 is the ex-NP 2524 built in May of 1965.

In the late 1960's NP equipped a few U25C's for Locotrol operation. U25C 2523 was the first and used with GP18 380 acting as the remote. NP 2524 was also later equipped as a Locotrol master but was paired with a rebuilt F7B, gutted with only the receiving equipment inside. Two more NP U25C's were equipped with Locotrol but not until after the BN merger.

Checking my notes I notice I never did see the 2524 before the 1970 BN merger after which it was renumbered BN 5624. All of the ex-NP U25C's but four were at first assigned to Miss. St in Minnesota for maintenance. The other four, 5602, 5608, 5623 and 5624 (all being Locotrol equipped) were assigned to Glendive, MT. It wasn't until April 8, 1978 that I first saw the 5624 in the engine facility at Interbay, WA in a consist of 6503/5624/6430, (SD45/U25C/SD45) its days as a Locotrol master long over.

My only photo of the 5624 was taken at Skykomish, WA on 7-31-79 after the many of the U-boats were released to general freight service.

As kind of an odd coincidence the 5624 was being used in helper service this day over Stevens Pass working mid-train with units 2517 and 6903. Some years before it held the lead position as a Locotrol master. Many of BN's U-Boats were stored pending retirement at Livingston, MT during 1980. The 5624 was retired in March 1981 and scrapped.