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In anticipation of its merger with the Burlington Northern, the Great Northern tried out an experimental paint scheme on 'Ocean View'.

The five Great Dome cars that belonged to the Great Northern and the one Great Dome car owned by the Burlington were merged into the same fleet on March 2, 1970 -- to form the brand new Burlington Northern Railroad. This was the first time since their 1955 debut that all six of the Great Domes were now owned by the same railroad.

In anticipation of its merger into the Burlington, the Great Northern tried out an experimental paint scheme in 1969 on Great Dome 'Ocean View'. As pictured above, the dome had a white stripe straight through the car -- making a half green lower (that particular shade of green was the new color for the Burlington Northern), a half white upper, a black roof, but still Great Northern Big Sky Blue style lettering and logos. This was the only Great Dome car painted by the soon-to-be Burlington Northern.

The Burlington Northern continued to operate all six Great Dome cars on the Empire Builder route, which it now fully inherited from the Great Northern. Previously, the Empire Builder operated on the Burlington from Chicago to the Twin Cities, before switching to the Great Northern west of the Twin Cities.

One of the Burlington Northern's original timetables -- from October 1970.

The use of Great Domes on the Empire Builder is noted on the BN Timetable.

An advertisement announcing the merger into the Burlington Northern.

A view of what the interior of the Great Dome would look like in 1970.

Less than one year and two months after ownership of the Great Domes transferred from the Great Northern to Burlington Northern -- more change was in the air. The Great Domes would become part of Amtrak's fleet on May 1, 1971, after taking over most of the Burlington Northern's passenger train operations. To continue the story of the Great Domes, click on the "Amtrak: 1971-Current" link located to the left.

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