Training in Fargo: Skagit River Pauses in Fargo
BNSF 87 carries the name Skagit River and has been a track measurement car from at least since 2006. I found it in Fargo on cool late winter afternoon sitting on the mainline (former Northern Pacific) about a quarter mile from Dakota division HQ. These tracks parallel Main Ave through Fargo on the north side of the road. This car is former a Southern Pacific bi level commuter coach 3702 built in 1955 by Pullman. In 1985 this coach along with a few of its 'brothers' in the low 3700 series of bi-levels were sold to excursion line Transcisco Tours. 3702 was renamed Donner Lake for their Sierra 49er Express. Transcisco Tours did not do well financially.
In the early 1990s Burlington Northern grabbed up a handful of these bilevel cars from Transcisco to rebuild and put into their business fleet. As this point 3702 was renamed Skagit River, given the number BNA 33 and painted in Burlington Northern business livery. It took on the aluminum look following the BNSF merger where it became BNSF 42 for a time and was involved in excursion service. I think it was also in this timeframe that the coach became a sightseer coach- it has a large window on the tail end of the car.
The actual Skagit River is a river that flows through British Columbia and Washington and empties into Puget Sound at Skagit Bay south east of Anacortes and south west of Mount Vernon. BNSF has a bridge that crosses the Skagit River between Burlington and Mount Vernon. It was due to be replaced in the last few years but hit some permit red flags. I have found nothing to indicate it has been replaced.
Typically coupled to the Skagit River is its track geometry fleet partner Atchison (BNSF 88). They are rarely apart.
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