Three Burlington Northern EMD SD40-2s power first No. 15 through the snowsheds east of Java, Montana, on an autumn crossing of Marias Pass on October 8, 1996. Lead unit No. 6850 is a former Colorado & Southern locomotive. Even though Burlington Northern Santa Fe was created the year before, the railroads still operated more independently, like this stack still using BN’s system of numbered trains, until they were official merged together on December 31, 1996.
