Great Northern 441

[BurlingtonJohn]

Caught this motor yesterday in Burlington Iowa.  It is a former Santa Fe F45 that was cosmetically restored at the Relco Shops in Albia Iowa (IIRC) ... it is headed to Montana for use at a hotel complex (again, IIRC).

 Regards,
Burlington John

 

[MJChittick]

See the following Trains Newswire article:

'Big Sky Blue' F45 prepped for shipment to Montana

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Published: Tuesday, August 18, 2009

F45 GN 441 prepares for shipment after being painted at RELCO's Albia, Iowa, shop. Photo by: Chris Guss ALBIA, Iowa - RELCO Locomotives Inc. forces have finished work on "GN 441," an F45 locomotive that's been gutted and will serve as lodging at the Izaak Walton Inn at Essex, Mont. The ex-Santa Fe unit has been painted into Great Northern "Big Sky Blue" for Tom Lambrecht who, during the day, serves as chief of BNSF Railway's general director of locomotives. The locomotive's interior will feature a master suite with a king bed, spacious living area, and a fully equipped kitchen. The floors are made of 400-year-old antique oak. Its operator's cab has been restored to better-than-new condition. By flipping a switch, visitors can open a 60-inch picture window that will look out on BNSF's Chicago-Seattle main line. The inn will lease the unit to visitors as a "timeshare" with Lambrecht, Izaak Walton General Manager Dorothy Parton said. She said she doesn't know yet how much it will rent for. However, she said the inn plans a dedication ceremony for No. 441 some time this fall. No. 441 is to ship tomorrow from RELCO's shops in Albia, and Lambrecht plans to post updates on the move to Montana on his Twitter site at http://twitter.com/gn441