| BN GP9m (maybe?), Springfield, Missouri, August 22, 1996, photo by Chuck Zeiler. I tossed the "m" on the GP9 designation, it is clearly modified. This locomotive was built as CB&Q GP9 280 (c/n 19619) in July 1954 on EMD Order 5354, and sometime after March 2, 1970 it became BN 1965. The headlight is lower than usual because a Mars oscillating light fixture was installed above the headlight by EMD and has since been removed. The 1972 BN Annual states that it retained a steam generator in the short hood. Later, according to the November 1983 issue of Trains Magazine (p. 47), BN 1965 had been the original unit selected for application of the BN's natural-gas fuel experiment, and the short hood compartment had been equipped as the parlor (BN's term) for the test crew. The short hood had side windows and front windshields, complete with wipers. Subsequently, sister ex-CB&Q GP-9 276 (renumbered to BN 1961), replaced 1965 as the natural-gas unit, leaving the number 1965 to roam its normal rounds. So, despite BN's negotiating with the United Transportation Union for cabooseless locals of 100 miles or less, road-switchers, light engines, and work trains (Trains, June 1983, p. 13), GP-9 1965 isn't party to that innovation. |