I’m looking for information on Burlington Northern locomotive maintenance assignments for 1970.For the most part,the BN Motive Power Annuals only have rosters not assignments of power to certain divisions.The 1971 Annual does have a map with quantities of locomotives to each shop,but no specifics after that.Locomotive maintenance assignments are sadly lacking during this era.I’ve not found any information on any websites.Any ideas?
Have a good one.
Bill B
Bill, I’m sure that in 1970 with the BN coming into existance in March that locomotives would still be assigned to their pre-merger locations. So large CB&Q power was assigned to Lincoln, NP’s large EMD’s to Livingston, NP’s big GEs to Mississippi St., GN’s large power to Havre, and SP&S locomotives to Vancouver, WA. Local power and switchers scattered about. Beginning with the 1973 or 1974 BN Annuals, BN locomotive assignments are shown. I just checked the 1974 BN Annual and it does show assignments, I will check my 1972 and 1973 Annuals tonight.
beaulieu,thanks for the info.I’ll have to get some of the other BN Annuals.I have the 1971 annual and the 1977-80 issue(falling apart tho).Are there any other books that I could get that would have more info? The other thing I’d like to find more of is action shots of freight trains for the BN during 1970-71 and it’s predecessors during 1969.I have the GN Vol.7 from Four Ways West and Color pictorial 2 on the GN’s Big Sky Blue era that has lists of GN assignments for Oct 1969.Any good books out there that would have more action photos concerning BN and it’s predecessors? Thanks.
Have a good one.
Bill B
Bill, starting with the 72 BN Annual, the assignments are detailed, not summary, i.e. home base for every locomotive is listed.
John Beaulieu
Other BN era books I recommend’
“BN into the 90’s” by Joe Shine, published by Four Ways West
“Burlington Northern and its Heritage” by Steve Glischinski, published by Andover Junction
“Northwest Passage” by Rob Leachmann, published by Hundman Publishing
For the Predecessors, either the Morning Sun or Four Ways West books that you cited.
The Steve Glischinski book has a chapter for each predecessor.
Thanks,John.I’ll have to get a copy of that and look it over.
Have a good one.
Bill B
I’m working on a list of locomotive maintenance assignments for the BN which I want to include locations of units as of 3/3/70.On a difficulty scale of 1 to 10,this would rate about a 15! 
Great Northern Color Pictorial Volume 2 has lists of maintenance assignments for GN units as of October 1969,most of which would not have changed much by the time of the merger.And the assignments for the predecessors didn’t change too much for the first few years after the merger(X2200S lists some changesduring 1970-1972). As for locations,I have a small list of where some units were from looking at photos,reading articles,and correspondances.These are a few that I know.BN SW1’s 77,81,and 83 were at Interbay in Seattle,SW1 82 was at either Great Falls or Helena,Montana,and 80 was assigned to St.Cloud Mn as the car shop switcher.NW5 986 was the assigned unit on the Hutchinson,Mn branch.SW9’s 146 to 148 worked around Vancouver and New Westminster,B.C. area.SW9’s 150 and 151 worked Whitefish,Montana yard. GP7’s 1520-1522 rotated duty working the Kalispell branch from Columbia Falls to Somers and the branches going southeast of Spokane(they were assigned to Hillyard for maintenance).
I’m hoping that a few people can help me fill in the blanks.I’d like to start with locations of the NP’s Alco S2/S4 fleet,unit numbers 700-724(assigned BN numbers 900-924).Thanks.
Have a good one.
Bill B