"Approach, Approach"

GN 448A, December 29, 1964. Seattle, Washington. I wish you could have been there with me to hear this quartet throttling up northbound out of Interbay in a cut under the West Fort Street Overpass, running under the authority of white signals.

For “newer” generation rail fans who do not know what white, green, or red bullet signals are on locomotives; “white” lights and/or flags indicate an off time-table train movement governed by train orders.

Now I’ve heard dozens of the new generation big block power at throttle-up.

Neah! Doesn’t sound the same as the 567C. Higher rpm's and screaming scavenger air. There is something very distinct when 16 of ‘em in a block are roaring away at 825 rpm's. There is a difference between 825 and 900 rpm’s!

One man’s very humble opinion.

When the bridge signal is in sight, and recognized as an "Approach" signal by the Engineer, he must call out "Approach." If the Fireman recognizes the signal to be indeed "Approach," he will annunciate "Approach." Hence "Approach Approach."

“Approach speed” will be maintained until signals verify that the Ship Canal Bridge is “aligned and locked,” and that Special Instructions speed limit are observed, as the freighter tiptoes over the Ship Canal.

This train could be heading up the Puget Sound to Vancouver, B.C., or taking a right turn at Everett, heading for the High Cascades and beyond. Clearly there are two versions of the Empire Builder paint scheme in this consist. Lead 448A has a smaller gold bar just above the running gear not seen in her three obedient sisters. That is the original “Empire Builder” scheme.

To save unit downtime in the paint booth, (read that: save dollars and cents) the gold bar was eliminated in 1962, as seen in the following units.

Railroad Stuff: GN448A, built 3/58, sn 9538, after the merger, became Burlington Northern 660, scrapped 11/70.