I have some slides here I took at about age 15 as the Builder was coming to a stop at Everett WA. Two brand new EMD SDP-45's and every coach in Big Sky Blue.I've heard some GN guys say that never happened but it did that day. No Omaha Orange anywhere.

My Uncle Marv Butzky was the engineer on the last run of NP's North Coast from Jamestown ND to Staples MN. I got smuggled abourd at Jamestown and got to set in the engineers seat to Valley City and a bit beyond. Of course with close supervision. Big oversized train for that last run.

Was fun to pull the throttle back to 8 leaving Jamestown. He ran it to a stop at Staples...We were at a tremendous rate of speed. Looking back you could see the sparks flying off lots of wheels. Perfect stop and he retired then.

That era is gone...It's sad.

Mark