I am trying to get some information on the BN in ex great northern territory from 1980-1990 im trying to find what northern yard had a roundhouse because thats going to be a major part of the layout and im also trying to find out what type of trains and locos they used so i can get this a prototypically acurate as possible so id really appreciate the help.
I also model the BN, I have found the BN Annuals very helpfull and also several books on the BN.
They can be found from time to time on Ebay or Amazon. I believe Great Falls Montana had a roundhouse and is an interesting area to model.
Also the net has loads of info just search google, yahoo. dogpile on BN history and of course some BN modelers on here or the Atlas forum are very helpful.
Mark
I live in NW Houston and grew up watching the BN/CRIP come and go, those were the days.
Also try this for motive power.
Excuse my ignorance/confusion… is that Houston TX?
How’d the BN get there? Did they take over CRIP tracks when CRIP died or…?
TIA [8D]
The Burlington Northern shared the line to Houston with the Rock Island and was called the Joint Texas Division. Then when the Rock went bankrupt the BN took over and is now BNSF.
Mark
A northern, former GN location on BN (now BNSF) that sports a roundhouse and turntable, which are still in use is the Interbay locomotive shop located in Seattle, Washington. This is the major west end yard on the BN through the 80s. Another location on the ex-GN highline that would be of interest to model would be Havre, Montana. There is a turntable there, and although there’s no traditional roundhouse, there is a major locomotive shop there for servicing the northern locomotive fleet-also still in operation. As to locomotives on the system in that era, you would be able to find the last vestiges of the old F-unit fleet up until 1981. GP9s were still in very common use, though GP7s (and SD7s) were on their way out. The first GP39-2s were delivered in 1981-they basically finished the Fs. SD9s and the ex-Q SD24s were still around. All the second generation units from the predecessor roads were still in service (GP20, 30, 35 and 40) plus the new purchased GP38s and 38-2s. SD40s and especially SD40-2s were very prevalent. SD45s were still in use, though by the 80s they (and the F45s) were being relegated to more secondary trains. The GEs on the road were U30B, U30C, C30-7. Most of the older U-boats had been RTL or scrapped by then. Finally, there was a wide selection of old EMD switchers systemwide, though in the 80s the NW2 fleet was being reduced rapidly. All Alco power had been retired by 1980. GP50s came in the middle 80s as did the cabless B30-7As-the old 4000 series-now gone. Hope this helps.
Thats some great info most of my fleet of BN units fit the time period which is really good because i was a little nervous about my athearn F7 i got for christmas which i checked trainpix.com and they said it was retired in 81 so it will probably get a good weathering job and i also have an atlas SD24 which i love and for my fav. second generation unit the SD45 i have one from bachmann but im probably going to replace it with a proto 2000 model GP38’s arent a problem i have 2 with GP50 and 40-2 so my geep fleet is good for now and i have one SD40 so ill decide on my location soon but thanks for all the info!
When I used to railfan and take pictures on the Joint Texas Division, one thing I enjoyed was the different units the BN had. In the late 70’s and early 80’s the Burlington Northern would run south to Houston , Texas SD40-2,SD45, SDP40,Geeps,U boats, F-45’s, and even old F units. Thats another reason I modeled the BN was all the choices they had from the old mergers. I also enjoyed the 3 Bicentennial units that would come by to.
One nice thing about the BN annuals they state where and what type of locomotives where used in each region by type and road number.
Mark
Thats awsome i never saw the BN bicentennial units but i bet they were a great site. The only BN i could see in person was what i saw as a little kid going to my grandma’s driving under the BN’s bridge that led to there yard. It was all usuall yard power little EMD switchers all over the place and once in a while i would catch a main line train coming in. As a matter of fact i saw my first Conrail unit there, good times.
BN probably had alot of SD40-2s at that time, but depending on the era there are varied SD45s. By the late 1980s most where sold to WC or MRL. To add some more motive power, BN would of had the GP9s and some C30s. They also had some SD9s and GP38Ms/39Ms. They probably had the F45 still aroung, but by the late 80s they where gone. The SD60M would be a good loco+the reglar SD60 in EMD leasing colors would be perfect too. The GP40s and 38s where pretty common, also the GP50. For some more odd BN power Tom Danneman wrote an artical on a more realistick Desial fleet. Even though it’s more and MRL, they do have some BN locos. http://www.trains.com/mrr/objects/pdf/danneman_n_scale_loco.pdf
EDIT: Don’t forget about the F7s.