| Assigned to the yard in Vancouver, Washington, is BNSF 1550 – a 61-year-old locomotive still in service on this August 22, 2015 afternoon. Built by EMD as Great Northern SD9 573, this locomotive became Burlington Northern 6100 in the CB&Q/GN/NP/SP&S merger that created the Burlington Northern Railroad in 1970. When the BN merged with the Santa Fe Railway at the end of 1996 this engine became BNSF 6100. To extend its useful life, BNSF SD9 6100 was rebuilt to an SD9-3 in early 1999, receiving a new nose and cab in the process (along with other internal upgrades). It was later renumbered BNSF 1710, and then renumbered again to BNSF 1550. In mid-2019, this engine was sent to storage in Minneapolis’ Northtown Yard, and is not likely to see service for the BNSF again. |