The early BN, in the Northwest, in many ways, looked like a 1950s railroad, at least by eastern standards. Both the GN and NP had a lot of wood-sheathed cars still in service, simply because they built them later than other roads. They also kept many 2-bay hoppers, as they hauled more rock, and sugar beets, than coal, and didn't need high-capacity cars. 40 ft boxcars were very common, including on the CB&Q, because that was the standard for grain hauling. Jumbo covered hoppers were just becoming common. Finally, all three northwest railroads, GN, NP, and SP&S, were still running most of their first generation diesels in mainline service, including one of the nation's largest F-unit fleets, and many early Alcos on the SP&S.
Through the 70s it wasn't uncommon to see a string of Fs, all in new BN green, pulling 40' boxcars full of wheat, just like the 1950s.
