Classic Trains – September 2019

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Union Pacific’s Bend Local soars over the Crooked River near Opal Springs,
Ore., late in the day of August 17, 1978, southbound to the train’s namesake
city. UP has trackage rights over this BN line through central Oregon.

Union Pacific freight rolls south along Puget Sound at Steilacoom, Wash., on

July 20, 1979. Burlington Northern and UP shared the line between Portland,

Ore., and Puget Sound, and even coordinated passenger trains before 1971.

Four Burlington Northern Geeps, led by GP9 No. 1756, power a freight west

over the former Northern Pacific near Whitehall, Mont., on July 8, 1973. Most of

the freight cars shown seem more appropriate for the 1950s than the 1970s.