PRESCOTT JAMES Enlarge Image

General manager Doug Dillon (left) and president Robert Goch are pleased to welcome BNSF 1685 to the Prairie Dog fleet.

The Prairie Dog Central Railway has a new member that should keep the railway on track for years to come.

Earlier this month the Prairie Dog vintage locomotive organization acquired the BNSF 1685, a GP9 diesel engine built in 1957. The addition of a new locomotive brings the PDC’s engine compliment to three and railway officials say it will make for a much smoother operation.

"This means we will have an engine to fall back on if one of our others breaks down," president Robert Goch said.
"And this particular locomotive is in excellent condition. Our mechanics have said they have never seen a locomotive of this age in such great shape."

Goch explained that the 1685 has a long history in Manitoba. Its 51 years of regular operation were spent running from Winnipeg to Emerson.

"She is perhaps the lowest mileage GP9 locomotive anywhere," Goch said.

The BNSF 1685 was donated by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company, one of the largest railways in North America. Goch said it was the first donation of its kind for the company.

"I took many emails phone calls and letters to convince BNSF that we were a historical society and that there 1685 was a significant locomotive for railway history here in Manitoba," he said.

"BNSF runs mostly in the states so they don’t really donate to Canada, so this is a first for them."

Apparently the BNSF executive got the hint because on July 16, BNSF representatives held a ceremony and control of 1685 was handed over to the PDC with one condition — the PDC keep the BNSF paint job.

"We are deeply grateful for their acknowledgement of the role 1685 had in Winnipeg’s railway history through their generous donation of 1685 to the Vintage Locomotive society," Goch said.

Not only has the addition of the 1685 contributed to the PDC’s historical compliment of vintage trains, it will also go a long way in ensuring its continued operation.

"What this does is opens doors for us to do more commercial operations," general manager Doug Dillon said.
Dillon said a third engine means the railway can begin looking at becoming more of a short-line commercial operation to help offset rising operational cost.

Goch said that PDC train mechanics are currently doing one final inspection of the 1685 before it goes into service in the coming weeks.

prescott.james@canstarnews.com