Equipment Information

Burlington Northern BN1 is a modernized diesel locomotive known as a “cab unit.” It was built as an F9A mixed-traffic engine for the Northern Pacific Railroad, which used it to pull both passenger and freight trains. It was switched to pure freight duty in the early 1970s and was later rebuilt as a power unit for a rotary snow plow. In 1990 it was again rebuilt with modern equipment for the purpose of pulling the BN’s “executive train” of passenger cars.

Burlington Northern BN1 Details

Builder: Electro Motive Division GM
Year Built: 1954
Model: F-9A
Horsepower: 2000
Length: 52ft 4in
Width: 10ft 4in
Height: 14ft 9in
Weight: 228000 lbs
Brakes: 26L
Engine: 16-645CE
Motors: 4 EMD D77
Trucks: Blomberg M
Description: Diesel-Electric / Rebuilt to 38-2 specs
Arrived: 1997
Condition: Complete / unrestored / operational

Photo gallery

Burlington Northern BN1 Ownership History

1954-1970 – Northern Pacific #6700A
1970-c1973 – Burlington Northern #9800
c1973-1981 – Burlington Northern #766
1981-1990 – Burlington Northern #972567
1990-1995 – Burlington Northern #BN1
1995-1997 – Burlington Northern Santa Fe #BN1
1997-present – Illinois Railway Museum, Union, IL

Click to return to Internal Combustion Locomotive roster
Click to return to main roster page