Great Northern E7A 510 St. Paul MN 5-11-1970
Here's a shot of Great Northern E7A 510 leading the Badger/Gopher at Westminster Junction in St. Paul May 1970. The 510 was built in August 1947 and retired as BN 9908 in April 1974. The E7s were the most common power on these trains between the Twin Cities and Twin Ports but I think early on in the 50s there were A-B sets of F Units used. The two GN GP9s equipped with steam boilers were often used in conjunction with the E7s or used together if the E units were out of service. The 1832(Ex GN 680) is trailing in the consist here. Usually on or near holidays saw expanded Badger/Gopher trains powered by an E7 and one of the GP9s, or on occasion, both GP9s alone. These trains began service on the GN in April 1952 and ended on the BN in April 1971, just before Amtrak began. The train above is actually a BN train. Amtrak revived a train between the Twin Cities and Superior in April 1975, named the "Arrowhead". This train was renamed in April 1978 to the "North Star" when Duluth was added as a terminus but this train was eventually abolished in April 1985. The strange coincidence with all these trains is that they all began and ended service in the month of April. St. Paul, MN May 11, 1970. J. David Ingles Kodachrome from my Collection.
Great Northern E7A 510 St. Paul MN 5-11-1970
Here's a shot of Great Northern E7A 510 leading the Badger/Gopher at Westminster Junction in St. Paul May 1970. The 510 was built in August 1947 and retired as BN 9908 in April 1974. The E7s were the most common power on these trains between the Twin Cities and Twin Ports but I think early on in the 50s there were A-B sets of F Units used. The two GN GP9s equipped with steam boilers were often used in conjunction with the E7s or used together if the E units were out of service. The 1832(Ex GN 680) is trailing in the consist here. Usually on or near holidays saw expanded Badger/Gopher trains powered by an E7 and one of the GP9s, or on occasion, both GP9s alone. These trains began service on the GN in April 1952 and ended on the BN in April 1971, just before Amtrak began. The train above is actually a BN train. Amtrak revived a train between the Twin Cities and Superior in April 1975, named the "Arrowhead". This train was renamed in April 1978 to the "North Star" when Duluth was added as a terminus but this train was eventually abolished in April 1985. The strange coincidence with all these trains is that they all began and ended service in the month of April. St. Paul, MN May 11, 1970. J. David Ingles Kodachrome from my Collection.