Pumpkin Cadillac

BNSF SD9-3 #1551 with a chopped nose waits for its next assignment in a yard in Seattle, WA. These units once pulled heavy duty main line trains in mountainous territory. When its 1700+ horsepower was eclipsed by newer, heavier, more powerful locomotives, they began to be demoted to secondary assignments. Starting with helper service, then heavy duty local trains. Now, its glory days long since past, this unit wiles away its twilight years shuffling cars as a humble, yet very capable yard switcher. Sometimes doing so with no crew on board.
I've never been a big fan of BNSF's various orange paint schemes. I've always been more fond of BN's wall of Cascade Green. But, you have to admit one thing: This is a high visibility color. Especially against either the green of the many forests and the white of heavy winter snows that often blanket the territory that this railroad runs through. Where this does score points with me is in the nostalgia department. It closely resembles Great Northern's orange and green "Empire Builder" colors.

Owner: BNSF Railway
Model: EMD SD9  Built As: CB&Q 333 (SD9)
Serial Number: 18992
Order No: 5313  Frame Number: 5313-9
Built: 3/1954  Notes: Ex-CB&Q
Other locos with this serial: BNSF 6135(SD9) CB&Q 333(SD9) BNSF 1711(SD9) BNSF 1551(SD9)