Nostalgia & History > Bicentennials on the BN

With Independence Day being tomorrow I scanned a few of my Bicentennial photos from the mid-70's.

1)  BN U30C 1776 at Interbay, WA 3-19-79 in company of BN 704.
2)  BN SDP40 1976 at Auburn, WA will soon be heading over Stampede Pass 8-13-77.

The other BN Bicentennial was SD40-2 1876 making for 2 EMD and one GE BN painted Bicentennial.  Can you imagine if BN had painted up an Alco C636's red white and blue instead of one of the EMD's?

One other Bicentennial on the BN in 1977 was WP 1976 making an appearance in Seattle 5-8-77.

I hope everyone has a great 4th of July!
Brian Ambrose
Renton, WA

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Great stuff Brian.

The only time I saw the BN Bi-Cents was in Colorado Springs in 76 when they were pulling The Freedom Train while 4449 was having wheel work done.

Brian E

Is that a BN steam generator car behind the 1776?  If so, what would the 1776 have been up to in Seattle on that date?

I didn't realize the 1776 kept that paint so long.  Anyone know when the BN repainted their RWB units?

Thanks for sharing these photos with us.

Milwaukee Wrote:
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> Is that a BN steam generator car behind the 1776?
>  If so, what would the 1776 have been up to in
> Seattle on that date?
>
> I didn't realize the 1776 kept that paint so long.
>  Anyone know when the BN repainted their RWB
> units?
>
> Thanks for sharing these photos with us.

The heater car is BN 17.  My notes say it was just coupled up to the 1776, not MU'd.  Coincidence they are together. 

Both the 1776 and the 1876 lasted into 1979 in the Bicentennial paint.  I have photos of SD40-2 1876 on 6-25-79.  SDP40 1976 had already been repainted and renumbered BN 6397 before May 1979 when I photograhed it on Stevens Pass as the 6397.

Brian