Frisco -BN Transition Period (1981-1983) Modeling

I am starting to collect BN equipment to model what I call the "transition period" 1981 to 1983 or so when there was a mix of BN and Frisco power and cabooses on the railroad. SLSF equipment was sublettered "BN" with a BN number and some Frisco engines were being repainted.

I am curious who else might be interested in this period so I put together a little poll.

 

I think that the world ended during Feb 1952

 

You got me there.

 

Dang, Roger, I forgot all about the Frisco running the BN for several years. That means I am still running the Frisco during 1981 - 1983.

 

Two points of Terry's insightful comments have really grabbed my attention, and imagination. He is right, the Frisco would not have remained independent. While I'm not particularly interested in the BN or BNSF itself, I am a fan of modern railroading. But what if the Frisco had merged with the Santa Fe? The St. Louis & Santa Fe Railroad? You get to keep SLSF on the sides of your equipment. Perhaps change the paint on your locomotives to something new, and run them all the way to the west coast.

I think I might have found the inspiration for a modern day freelanced railroad...

 

There are pictures floating around of Frisco F Units on Cajon pass, So modeling Friso units in California wouldn't be too far out of line with reality.

Paul

 

Specifically F9's, that is why the frisco had them built, or so I have been told. I've also heard that in the first few years of their life, the first U25b's (the high hoods) served out there as well.

Ethan

 

Actually, around the 1960-1961 time frame, the Frisco and the Santa Fe were discussing a merger. Obviously, it did not happen.

Rich

 

The first BN unit has arrived on the property. BN 2175 at SY.

 

I think that you guys who were around during the twilight years of passenger service and the prosperity years of the 60's and 70's obviously know how lucky you were. That's probably why the Frisco is held in such high esteem and the BN often in contempt. You were fortunate enough to see E8's, and a mixture of orange and white/black and yellow color schemes. It just wasn't the same after 1980.

I can remember one orange and white diesel traveling southbound through Wesco one snowy winter day, although I'm sure it was actually a technically a BN unit. My parents grabbed me and held me up to the kitchen window so I could see it. They used to do that everytime a train passed through, which was usually only once a week.

I can also remember one spring or summer seeing a green and black BN unit with a short train and a red caboose pass by also heading south to Salem. I'm sure the caboose was an old Frisco unit. Had to be.

My only other memory of activity on the Salem Branch was of a northbound train stopping in Wesco one summer evening. It had a blue and white diesel at the front, which I'm sure now was a GM demonstrator. There was this old WWII veteran named Carl that had a cabin that sat between the track and the river. He drank Stag beer by the case. The crew would go slow through town in the summer time and look for him. If he was there, they would stop and he would grab a pack of Stag and run out to hand it up to them. Some FRA official would be throwing a fit about it now. I thought it was great.

Therefore, the memories that I cherish the most are actually of the transition area. But my mother's side of the family were definitely Frisco people. I will always remember my great aunt looking out her apartment window in Steelville, shaking her head at the black and green engines, and saying "Burlington Northern-that doesn't even sound like a name for a railroad". I disagree, but there are many here that probably don't.

Pat Moreland,
Union Mo.

 

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo !!!!

 

Rick ... Kill it quick before it multiplies and takes over!

Pat ... Nice story, thanks.

 

Unfortunenately this is the period I remember most. We all wondered what this would mean and we soon found out. Green Monsters started showing up more frequently at Cherokee. Then it happened. The first "BN" re-stencil under the cab window. There's no way they will repaint all those orange and white engines...is there? We got that questioned answered for us...in spades. In three years they were gone. Lost to polaroids, crappy Kodaks and a handfull of quality 35mm slides. They soon became "rare". Like the white KCS or a unmolested Warbonnet of recent history. To see a little orange and white in a consist of green and black became an unexpected treat. And then they were gone. I don't remember where I saw my last Frisco diesel. I'm sure it was around Tulsa. I never thought they would dissapear entirely but just like that they were gone. Never, and I mean never to been seen again.
I was in my mid teens when this was happening. I didn't fully understand what it meant. After witnessing the vanishing of the Santa Fe I do now. I can understand why someone would want to model this time period. Holding on to that last bastion that was "The Frisco"

 

Frisco started ordering locomotives with dynamic brakes for the run through service with ATSF. The F9Bs and the two rebuilt F3As were the only cab units on the frisco with that option.

Paul

 

Imagine opening a Time Magazine around that time and seeing this ad somewhere inside...

 

That would be pretty interesting. Hmmmmm I did pick up a set of Santa Fe GP30's a month ago...............

Wonder what that paint scheme would look like?

Ethan

 

This is what I came up with. Tell me what you think. It's a little rough around the edges but paint didn't want to cooperate.