PURCELL OK Nov 21 1981 — Santa Fe B23-7 6375 leads a mixed freight just south of Purcell. GE built the unit (s/n 42421) in June 1979 and delivered it with a roof mounted air conditioner, AAR-B trucks, headlights on cab, plated over nose receptacle and painted it in blue body with yellow warbonnet. Between July 31 1985 and July 24 1986 as part of the proposed merger of Southern Pacific and Santa Fe it was renumbered SPSF 6375 and painted with a red body, yellow warbonnet with black roof and black frame livery. After the Interstate Commerce Commission rejected the merger the San Bernardino CA shops rebuilt the unit, renumbered it ATSF 7209 and repainted back to blue body with yellow warbonnet livery before December 1989. It was later renumbered ATSF 6375. On Sept 22 1995 it was transferred to Burlington Northern Santa Fe. On Dec 26 1999 it was renumbered BNSF 4232, retained its yellow warbonnet livery and was patched with small BNSF letters on cab sides. My photo.
Aside from Warbonnets and Chiefs, Santa Fe was a workaday railroad like any other. This album showcases that less glamorous--but no less vital--side of the famous ATSF.
