BN Expediter Back Issues: 1993 – 2000

The BN Expediter – Back Issues: 1993 – 2000

Scroll down for a description and cover shot of each issue:

Click here for a sample of one of the issues on the CD (5 Mbytes).

Please Note: These issues are no longer available in paper form. You can, however, download single issues in PDF form by selecting them (below), or download ALL 32 1993-2000 issues for $40 (each issue will be a single file PDF format).

Click here if you prefer to order the 32 back issues on a CD

Some issues of The BN Expediter have graphics or images that span two pages. When reading paper copies, those two pages would be open at the same time which makes it easy to see. However digital downloads (PDFs) are generally read one page at a time, so you have to switch back and forth between the two-pages containing such items to see them. Fortunately, the Adobe Acrobat Reader (download Adobe Acrobat Reader – free) has an option to display pages side by side on the screen. To use it, pull down the “View” menu, select “Page Display” and then select “Two-Page View.” Then pull down the “View” menu again, select “Page Display” and than select “Show cover page.” Voila!

The January 1993 issue (8 pages) contains:

Passenger Service on the BN (Part 1), by John Strauss
A comprehensive article about all BN passenger trains beginning on March 3, 1970 and ending on April 30, 1971 (no photos).

The April 1993 issue (12 pages) contains:

Passenger Service on the BN (Part 2), by John Strauss
A comprehensive article about all BN passenger trains beginning on March 3, 1970 and ending on April 30, 1971 (with a few photos).
Operating and Maintenance Function Reorganization
A listing of the new corridor/division/subdivision organization on January 1, 1993.

The July 1993 issue (12 pages) contains:

A Medley of BN Company Service Equipment, by Jerry Pitts
Photos and info about twelve odd pieces of equipment, including a weed sprayer, tool and supply cars,
kitchen, dining and personnel cars, scale test and water cars, and snowplows.
Passenger Service on the BN (Part 3), by John Strauss
A comprehensive article about all BN passenger trains beginning on March 3, 1970 and ending on April 30, 1971 (with a few photos).

The October 1993 issue (12 pages) contains:

The BN Fuel Tender Story, by Jerry Pitts
A long article about the vision and implementation of BN fuel tenders (with photos).
The Galesburg Convention, by Dave Poplawski
A recount of the activities of the FOBNR’s first convention (with photos).

The January 1994 issue (16 pages) contains:

BN’s “City Scene” Trailers and Containers, by John Becker
A short article with all trailer numberings (with photos).
BN Operation of South Dakota’s ex-Milwaukee Road Trackage, by Jeff Hendricks
A long article (with maps, timetables and photos).
Saunders, Wisconsin, by Dave Poplawski
A short article about operations at the junction (with map and photos).

The April 1994 issue (16 pages) contains:

Breezy Point and BN’s Horseshoe Curves in Nebraska, by Jerry Pitts
An article about Crawford Hill (with map and photos).
Wishram Washington, by Kristopher Lundt
An article about action at Wishram (with map, photos, timetables and train information).
The SD70MAC Makes its Debut, by Robert Del Grosso
A short article about the delivery of the first SD70MACs.
Weather Woes
Photos and information about snow related issues, including a snow jet.

The July 1994 issue (16 pages) contains:

The Hill Lines Become the Green Giant, by John Strauss
A short history of the evolution of the BN from 1896 to 1970.
A Summer of Change, by Dennis Pehoski
1993 Taconite operations on the BN (with map and photos).
The story behind the BN Logo, by Jerry Pitts
A short article on the development and acceptance and evolution of the BN logo.
BN’s New Radio Frequencies
An almost complete list of radio frequencies assigned to main-line routes across the system as of January, 1994.

The October 1994 issue (16 pages) contains:

BN Locomotive Chronicles: 1970
An article about locomotive activities during 1970, including renumberings, repaintings, new acquisitions and retirements (with photos).
Trinidad Loop, One of BN’s Hidden Hot Spots, by Kristopher Lundt
A short article about the loop in Eastern Washington (with map and photos).
BN-Ordered 4750cc Covered Hoppers, by David Lehlbach
A short article about the newly delivered covered hoppers (with photos).
BN and Santa Fe Propose Merger
A short article about the details of the proposal.

The January 1995 issue (16 pages) contains:

Snowplow activity in North Dakota, by David Gasal
Use of rotary snowplows during the winters of 92/93 and 93/94 (with photos).
BNFE 3 and BN’s CO₂ Cooled Reefers, by Jerry Pitts
Information about the history and specifications of BNFE 3 versus BN’s 751000 series refrigerator cars (with diagram and photos).
BN East End Traffic Summary, by Alex Engelke
A complete listing of all trains running on Chicago-Aurora triple-track mainline (except commuters).
24 Hours on BN’s East End, by Rick Moser and Alex Engelke
A record of every train passing milepost 27 between 6am on August 12th through 6am on August 13, 1994 (time, locomotive numbers, train number).

The April 1995 issue (16 pages) contains:

Locomotive Chronicles 1971
A long article about BN’s locomotive activites during 1971, including acquisitions and dispositions (with photos).
BN’s Aluminum Covered Hoppers, by David Lehlbach and Dan Holbrook
An article about the development and acquisition of a new design (with photos).

The July 1995 issue (16 pages) contains:

North Portland Jct, by Kristopher Lundt
Action at a busy junction (with maps and photos).
BN’s Beth-Combo Cars, by Jerry Pitts
A long article about a combined box/hopper car (with photos and data).
BN/SF Merger Update
Up-to-date information on agreements made with other railroads and ports in order to remove opposition.

The October 1995 issue (20 pages) contains:

Locomotive Chronicles 1972
Locomotive activity during 1972 including acquisitions and dispositions (with photos).
BNA 99, by Dennis Pehoski
BN’s technical training car (with photos).
BN Freight Car Deliveries: 1994, by Doug Stark
A short article about BN’s freight car acquisitions (with photos and data)

The January 1996 issue (20 pages) contains:

Steam Heat: The Story of BN’s ex-F Unit Heater Cars, by Jerry Pitts
A short article on the conversions (with data, diagrams and photos).
Seattle Terminal Complex, by John Strauss
A short article, with a complete list of trains into and out of Seattle area terminals (with photos).
Interbay Locomotive Shops, by John Strauss
The history and current operation of the shops (with photos).
Interbay Car Shops, by John Strauss
A short article about current operations.
Ballard Draw Bridge, by John Strauss
The history of the bridge (with photo).
BN Business, by Gary Seymour
An article about the economic aspects of the BN in 1994, the last year before the merger, including a breakdown of revenue and expense categories.

The April 1996 (color) issue (20 pages) contains:

BN(SF) Freight Car Developments, by David Lehlbach
A short article about grain car consolidations and new coal gons and boxcars.
Locomotive Chronicles 1973
Activities, acquisitions, dispositions (with photos).
BN’s Aurora Subdivision: The C&I, by Alex Engelke
Current operations (with maps, timetable and photos).
BNSF System Map, with plans for merged operations at many locations.

The July 1996 issue (20 pages) contains:

BN’s Secondhand Freight Car Fleet: A 1980-1996 Overview, by Doug Stark
A short article with data and lots of photos.
The B9 Track Geometry Car by Jerry Pitts
A short article with photo.
Northern Star ALl-Composite Box Car, by Jerry Pitts
The development and details of this experimental prototype (with data and photos).
BN Tool House – Motor Car House at Hillsboro, North Dakota, by Martin Evoy III
A short article, with photo and scale drawing.

The October 1996 issue (20 pages) contains:

BN Locomotive Chronicles: 1974
Activities, acquisitions, dispositions (with photos).
Building a BN GP10 in N Scale, by George Nelson
How-to, with photo and list of materials.
The New Connection at Cameron, by David Lehlbach
A description of the new tracks connecting the ex-BN and ex-SF mainlines near Galesburg, IL (with map and photos).
BN Freight Car Deliveries: 1995, by Doug Stark
A summary of new freight cars (with data and photos).

The January 1997 issue (20 pages) contains:

Air Repeater Cars, by Jerry Pitts
Information and photos.
1994 BN Train Manifest
Diagrams of all BN intermodal and manifest trains.
Going into the Hole, by Dave Poplawski
A short article about the process of getting into and out of a siding in Track Warrant Control (TWC) territory.

The April 1997 color issue (20 pages) contains:

BN Locomotive Chronicles: 1975
activities, acquisitions and dispositions (with photos).
Mr. Thomas K. Lee, 1996 Convention Speaker: Remarks and Q/A
Merchandise Routings Shift from Former GN to Former NP, by David Lehlbach
A short article about operational changes (with photos).

The July 1997 issue (20 pages) contains:

The Amber Subdivision and The Hinckley Local, by Dave Poplawski
A description of the entire Minnesota subdivision and the local train that operates on it (with maps, timetable and photos).
Electronically Controlled Pneumatic Brake Development on the BN and BNSF, by Jerry Pitts
Technology, operation and installed equipment (with diagrams, charts and photos).
BN’s ACF Cylindricals, by Doug Stark
Description and roster of cylindrical center flow covered hoppers (with diagrams and photos).
The Stryker, Montana Log Loading Station, by Martin Evoy III
A short article on the layout and use (with photos and map).

The October 1997 issue (20 pages) contains:

The ’97 Galesburg Convention, by John Adams
A description of the events and activities.
BN Locomotive Chronicles: 1976
Activities, acquisitions and dispositions (with photos).
Mechanical Reefer BNFE 180311, by Jerry Pitts
A short article about one of a common car series (with data and photos).
BN Freight Car Deliveries: 1996, by Doug Stark
New and rebuilds (with data and photos).
BN Route Density Map
Expected gross tons per mile in 1998.
Three-Letter Origin/Destination Codes
A complete list.
The Havre Diesel Shop in 1984
A status report, with many statistics.

The January 1998 issue (20 pages) contains:

BN’s Electric Trailers, by Jerry Pitts
A short article about ex-NP slugs (with data and photos).
BNSF 511824-511965 GBSR Gondolas, by Jerry Pitts
A short article about these ex-BN gons (with photos).
BN Extended Cab GP50’s 3158-3162 in HO scale, by Micheal Farley
How to extend the cab (with material list and photos).
A Potpourri of Snow Fighting Equipment (during summer vacation), by Dennis Pehoski
Photos and info about various snowdozers, spreaders and a Bros snowblower.
M-of-W Flat Car Loads
Panel track, a rail grinder and a camp car on flat cars (with photos and info).

The April 1998 color issue (20 pages) contains:

Locomotive Chronicles: 1977
Activities, acquisitions and dispostions, including a list list of the last unit of each pre-merger color scheme to go green (with photos).
The Floods of ’97 and the Repairs at Mud Lake, South Dakota, by Jeff Hendricks
A description of the damage and repairs (with photos).
The Flashing White Signals East of Laclede, by Martin Evoy III
A long article about a mysterious signal on the Newport subdivision (with timetable, map and photos).
The end of the Second Subdivision, by David Lehlbach
A long article on the history, operation, and demise of the Camas Prairie Railroad (with photos).

The July 1998 issue (20 pages) contains:

Mr. Joe Conklin, 1997 Convention Speaker, Remarks and Q/A
A transcript of his talk and questions and answers.
Photographing Marias Pass, by Paul Merriman
Tips on when and where to get the best shots (with photos).
BN’s Scale Test Cars, by Doug Stark
Operation of BN’s fleet of this non-revenue equipment (with complete list and photos).
A Bibliography of BN and BNSF book, by Butch Eyler and Jerry Pitts
A list of 33 books from many authors up to 1997.

The October 1998 issue (20 pages) contains:

The ’98 Essex, MT Convention, by George Nelson
A description of the activities and events.
Bonanza at Powder River 1971, by John Strauss
Chapter 3 from John’s The Burlington Northern Operational Chronology 1970-1995, a long article covering BN operations during 1971 (not just coal), including a listing of all time freights.
BN Locomotive Chronicles: 1978
Activities, acquisitions and dispositions (with photos).
The BNA6 Executive Car Yakima River -> Missouri River, by Jerry Pitts
A short article on this car (with photos).
BN Freight Car Deliveries: 1997, by Doug Stark
A summary of all new freight cars (with data and photos).
A Bibliography of BN and BNSF Books and Articles, by Jerry Pitts and Barry Sadicarios
A listing of 13 books, 84 prototype articles, and 34 modeling articles published about the BN and BNSF up to 1998.

The January 1999 issue (20 pages) contains:

BN’s Chicago Commuter Operations, by Bill Miotek
The history and current operations, including the end of the E-units and the arrival of the F40PHM-2’s (with photos and an extended bibligraphy).

The April 1999 color issue (20 pages) contains:

Trains Meet at Broomfield, by Joe Snider
The history and operations around Broomfield, CO (with photos).
BN Locomotive Chronicles: 1979
Activities, acquisitions and dispositions (with photos).

The July 1999 issue (20 pages) contains:

Report on the 1999 Annual Convention in Kansas City, by John Adams
Activities and events.
Can I Inspire Your Interest in Signaling? (Part I), by Martin Evoy
A long article about the ins and outs of BN/BNSF signals (with photos).

The October 1999 issue (20 pages) contains:

BN Freight Car Deliveries: 1998, by Doug Stark
A summary of all new freight cars (with data and photos).
Can I Inspire Your Interest in Signaling? (Part II), by Martin Evoy
A continuation of the previous issue’s article (with photos).

The January 2000 issue (16 pages) contains:

BNSF and CN announce merger
A short article on the proposed merger.
BN Locomotive Chronicles: 1980
Activities, acquisitions and dispositions (with photos).
Train Symbol Conversion Chart
BN train numbers to BNSF 6-letter symbols.

The April 2000 color issue (20 pages) contains:

Minneapolis-St. Paul Hot Spots, by Kevin Madsen
An extensive review of all the great train-watching spots in and around the twin cities (with maps, timetables and photos)

The July 2000 issue (20 pages) contains:

Can I Inspire Your Interest In Signaling? (Part III), by Martin Evoy
Pictures and discussion of signals around the system.
Along the Line:
Photos and captions of interesting rail activity around the system.

The October 2000 issue (20 pages) contains:

The Boeing 737 Railcar Program, by John Schlueter
A discussion of equipment and procedures for moving 737 fuselages from Kansas to Washington (with diagrams
and photos).
BNSF Freight Car Deliveries: 1999, by Doug Stark
A discussion of the year’s new freight cars (with data and photos).