Burlington Northern Locomotives

Photos by Mike Condren

SW1500s

This SW1500 is seen switching in Memphis on June 24, 1982.

The Family Lines unit has just delivered the Ringling Bros Circus Train to the BN via the connection between the IC mainline and the BN north of the former Frisco Yale Yard in Memphis. The BN units is then seen heading for Yale Yard.
We next see the train in Yale Yard.

These 3 SW1500s are returning from President's Island with a cut of cars on Nov. 28, 1981.

Again we see 3 switchers returning to the mainline at Kentucky St from a trip to President's Island on Nov 28, 1981.

SW1500 #21 is seen working in Tennessee Yard in Memphis on July 10, 1982.

Another seen in Tennessee Yard in south east Memphis in Feb 1985.

On yet another trip to Kentucky St in Memphis, I shot these switchers returning from President's Island on March 22, 1987.

This westbound freight is seen at Kentucky St onApril 1, 1989.

BN #21 is seen in Marion, AR on the branch line to West Memphis, AR in August 1993.

This westbound freight is headed across the river as it approaches Kentucky St in Memphis on August 18, 1990.

Here we see 2 trains at CN Jct in Febrary 1985. A BN train is heading toward President's Island. In the background you can see a CN switcher crossing behind the BN train as it weaves through the crossover.

These SW1500s are seen working in Tennessee Yard in southeast Memphis in Jan. 1990.

This train is heading down Kansas St on its way to President's Island on August 16, 1987.

These SW1500s are switching the yard in Springfield, MO on June 19, 1981.

This transfer is returning to Tennessee Yard in SE Memphis on May 8, 1993.

This ex-Frisco SW1500 is seen near the Kansas Ave overpass in Springfield, MO on March 21, 1981.

These SW1500s are switching the yard in Springfield, MO on June 19, 1981.

Another string of SW1500s working the yard out side the shops in Springfield, MO on March 20, 1982.

Two SW1500s and a MP15 are seen crossing the IC passenger mainline south of Central Station in Memphis on Dec. 6, 1986.

These 2 SW1500s were shot in Tennessee Yard from the train celebrating the donation of a BN GP unit to the Memphis Transportation Museum in June 1983. That ride was from TY to the Mississippi River bridge and across it to Arkansas before returning to TY.

These SW1500s are seen returning from President's Island in Feb. 1985.

This train is passing our location in Yale Yard Memphis after the Frisco steamer 1351 was moved to there on its way to the Defense Depot on August 1, 1983. It took us all night to reach this location with the engine using 3 pieces of "snap track"

These 3 SW1500s are entering the mainline at Kentucky St on their return from President's Island in May 1987.

The westbound freight is headed to West Memphis, AR as it is seen at Kentucky St in Memphis on May 6, 1989.

These 2 SW1500s are seen in Memphis in Jan. 1990.

This SW1500 is seen in Yale Yard in Memphis on June 5, 1981.

These 3 SW1500s are about to cross Kentucky Street on a run to President's Island on my first weekend railfanning in Memphis after taking a job at Christian Brothers College on Aug. 22 ,1981.

This SW1500 is seen in Memphis on May 8, 1982.

These SW1500s are seen switching in Memphis on June 24, 1982.

This train is headed for President's Island to switch on Sept. 26, 1987.

This pair of switchers are seen returning to Tennessee Yard in Memphis on August 1, 1983.

This SW1500 is seen just outside the enginehouse in Cherokee Yard in Tulsa, OK on August 20, 1982.

This SW1500 is seen in the engine service tracks at Cherokee Yard in Tulsa, OK on August 21, 1982.

This switcher is returning from President's Island and is on the north main. It headed west to clear the signal so that the terminal CTC dispatcher could clear the eastbound signal for them.

BN 41 is next seen in this consist at Harvard, AR, the former Frisco yard north of Marion, AR. Before the bridge over the Mississippi River was completed in 1892, this was the terminal for trains that then crossed the river by barge.

This SW1500 was in the consist of the train to President's Island on my first railfan weekend after moving to Memphis, August 22, 1981.

The train to President's Island is seen on the causeway to the "Island" in January 1987.

These SW1500s are headed out of Tennessee Yard in Memphis on their was to President's Island on Dec. 27, 1989.

BN 46 is seen in Yale Yard in Memphis in July 1984.

This train to President's Island is seen approaching Kentucky St in Memphis on March 22, 1987.

These SW1500s are coupled to the Ringling Bros train in Yale Yard in Memphis on June 24, 1982.

These units are returning from President's Island at Kansas Ave in Memphis on March 19, 1983.

This unit is in Memphis in Jan. 1990.

These switchers are working the north end of Tennessee Yard in Memphis on June 5, 1981.

These SW1500s are working in Tennessee Yard in Memphis in June 5, 1981.

These units are at Kentucky St after returning from a trip to President's Island in Oct. 1981.

These 2 SW1500s are seen at Kentucky St as they head off the mainline toward President's Island on May 18, 1985.

These SW1500s are seen switching the yard at Springfield, MO on June 19, 1981.

More SW1500s are seen switching the flat yard at Springfield, MO on March 20, 1982.

Later 49 is parked on the ready track at Springfield, MO on March 20, 1982.

BN 50 is also parked on the ready track at Springfield, MO on March 20, 1982.

These switchers are woeking in Tennessee Yard in Memphis on Nov. 26, 1981.

BN 51 is seen bringing a string of autoracks into Tennessee Yard onMay 16, 1982.

This SW1500 is switching in Memphis in June 1983.

This switcher is working Yale Yard from the mainline in June 1983.

These SW1500s are working the east end of the Springfield, MO yard on March 21, 1982.

BN 53 is seen working the classification tracks of the Springfield, MO yard on March 21, 1982.

These SW1500s are working the west end of the Springfield, MO yard on March 20, 1982.

These switchers are working in Memphis on Dec. 27, 1989.

These SW1500s are seen working the classification tracks of the yard at Springfield, MO on March 21, 1982.

A SW1500 and a MP15 are seen switching the hump yard in Tulsa, OK on Nov. 19, 1988.

These 2 SW1500s are seen at the north end of the hump yard at Tulsa, OK in May 1984. Note the SW leg of the wye leading to the Avard Sub.

BN SW1500 #300 is seen leaving the mainline for the branch to President's Island at Kentucky St on June 15, 1991. Note the single story building, Kentucky St Tower.

This SW1500 is seen in Kansas City, KSin Nov. 1973.

This SW1500 is seen on MKT trackage in Kansas City, KS on June 20, 1979.

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