Mark, this is awesome. I love the added context you provide. One of the things I wanted to do with my original video is show a personal connection to the locomotives, something a little out of the ordinary from what I normally do. It's neat to see a long line of them going by, but seeing that they were once in regular service, just like the 1000s of other diesels in North America, adds weight to the overall story. I really like how your stories added even more to this. Excellent video!

As an update, my statement that Rainier Rail bought the locomotives is incorrect. They are just providing transportation from Centralia to Frederickson, WA, where the units are being scrapped. Sounds like they were purchased by some metal recycling company. Many of the first batch of 10 have already been cut. Freckles has managed to escape so far, but that likely won't last for long. The last 12 units will probably depart in the not too distant future, all slated for scrap as well.

My best wishes for Freckles. Any named engine should automatically get Preservation rights.

It’s a funny thing, the emotional attachment we attach to equipment we work on. It’s the stories and time spent that is seldom recorded in the history books that is some of the most fascinating. At the same time, we become part of their story as they become part of our own.

The fact that you still have connections to some of those old locos is truly wild to me, RIP Interbay

I know 1550 was donated to Lake Superior railroad museum for use on their tourist trains

I already love Freckles
32:15  Hyce saves the railroad? Definitely want to hear this.

Freckles is so charming! I hope it gets or has an owner because a switcher like that needs one!

They may have been... Well, past their prime, but I will still pour one out for their good service o7

I think you've made me fall in love with Freckles. It's so adorable. I hope it doesn't get taken to pieces lol

25:25 I can just see someone look at the engine, get upset and slow turn to the apprentice and say, “get the wizard”

I was a BN hostler at Interbay 1988-1989.  Officially a brakeman but at this time if I remember correctly the UTU had contractually taken over those jobs by bid or force assignment.  I decided to bid it in for a change of pace and to learn a little.  This was maybe 3 or 4 years before BN came up with their "service pad" area south of the roundhouse.  We used the "smokehouse" which could service 4 units at a time and was located right next to the main track.  Nice and dry out of the weather.  3 hostlers a shift---inside, outside, and downtown.  Senior man on each shift got to choose which of the three he  wanted to work that shift.  Inbound train crews brought power to inbound track which led right to the smokehouse. Inbound hostler handled the inbound track and brought power in and out of the smokehouse.  Also sanded power inside. Outside hostler took over power just outside smokehouse, ran it through the wash rack and distributed it to where the RH foreman's lineup dictated.  Also made roundhouse moves where needed.  Downtown hostler operated made up and tested consists to train origins locations...South Seattle, Stacy St., Interbay.  Picked up and brought back to Interbay power that was outlying somewhere and needed servicing.  Great video, as all of yours are.  Pangs of nostalgia for sure.  BTW, in those days laborers were our "switchman" in the roundhouse area.  Of course, they all knew how to run.  Sometimes, to speed things up, we'd split up and "one man" our moves.  Throw our own switches, etc.  Downtown hostlers needed a brakeman because those were moves on the mainline.

19:30 oh hey a DE6 Slug!

40:15 Earlier this year on this side of the pond, a class of passenger EMU (Class 455) were retired from service.
Managed to grab a ride on one of the last 'in service' workings of the class.
Found out the particular units were towed for scrap **the next day**.
When stuff that is as old as you are is scrapped,... it hits different...

I think a fun tribute to freckles would be to have a special "freckles" skin for Century of Steam that you can place on the little giant diesel switcher in the game. Complete with license plate and eagle image.

I barely remember my dad taking me, I thought down by King Street Station, to see a locomotive train exactly like this one with it seemed to me like a mile of steam locomotives. This had to be in the early 1950's I must have been 9 or 10 years old. He was so sad, and I had no idea I was witnessing the end of an era for the Great Northern.

14:25 I hope that one gets saved somehow, a six axle round roof high hood? What a handsome engine. Wears dirty BN green very well.

18:55 YOOO 1550! That loco is still pulling the Northwoods Explorer! I was on that train just last week!

The Great Northern had most SD9s built without dynamic brakes, but the entire fleet of CB&Q SD9s were built with dynamics.  I've still got vivid memories of SD9s getting the snot run outta them flat switching in the South Yard in Alliance, NE.

The DM&IR/CN shops in Proctor has a roundhouse and turntable, but its rarely used. But, nevertheless, it is used. 1550 was sent to Duluth, MN and now we use it at the NSSR!