On 05/31/2009 the Minnesota Transportation Museum took possession of BNSF SDP40 6327. BNSF 6327 was donated to MTM last year by BNSF but sat at Topeka until May of this year when it was brought to Northtown. The 6327 is in operating condition. On Sunday May 31st the 6327 was run as light power from St. Paul to Osceola, WI. We will probably use the 6327 on some of our Saturday/Sunday passenger operations originating at Osceola with trains to Marine, MN and Dresser, WI.My BNSF 6327 photo:http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=285759Ralph Back
Will paint be kept as is, or repainted to GN colors?
I read that it's will be repainted into GN's Big Sky Blue and be renumbered to back to 325, when funds are available.
I'm glad that one of those was preserved.The SDP 40 was a rare locomotive!
It is my understanding that it is not the MTM, rather the Great Northern Railway Historical Society that aquired it, and it going to be stored/run at MTM.
Mechanical Department "No no that's fine shove that 20 pound set all around the yard... those shoes aren't hell and a half to change..."
The Missabe Road: Safety First
Right im well aware of that. However I have had many GNRHS memebrs tell me they onw it.. Hmm will have to look into this.
Please, they are incorrect. Credit where credit is due.
BNSF 6327 / GN 325 is special. Only 20 of its model were built, and until now none preserved. It is one of only 103 passenger (vs. dual-purpose) diesels built for Mexico/US/Canada during the 1960's. It was purchased by a St Paul-based, pro-passenger railroad for a mainline St Paul to Seattle train in 1966 - when other railroads were dumping passenger trains. It served one owner faithfully for 42 years and was retired running - by my reckoning, the last active passenger diesel on the BNSF.
Credit goes to the Minnesota Transportation Museum. BNSF signalled a willingness to donate a locomotive about the same time 6327 was retired, and within days MTM asked for it specifically.
It is indeed neat that GN 325 and GN "Hustle Muscle" 400 are preserved by cooperating organizations and will share the same GN roundhouse. Especially because they have adjacent order numbers and even adjacent serial numbers.
I'm proud to be a member of MTM who has secured this significant locomotive for future generations.
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