Number B1 was built by Pullman in 1923 as a 6-compartment, 3 double bedroom sleeper named Burns. It was purchased by the Great Northern in September 1949 as Burns, rebuilt by the GN in August 1952 as air brake instruction car B1 (2nd) It became BN B1 in March 1970 and was later used in testing Locotrol operations.

This lightweight business car was built in 1947 by Pullman-Standard for the former GN as their A-28. In the late 60's the GN renumbered this car as A-4, and repainted it Big Sky Blue. Entering the 1970 BN merger, it remained that same way, with only the initials changing from GN to BN. One year later this car was repainted into the standard green & white scheme, but it still kept it's A-4 desination. Ten months later it acquired the nomenclature BNA-8 and was named KOOTENAI RIVER. It remained that way through it's 1974 general rebuilding until 1981/82, when it got a major overhaul and a new name, CANADIAN RIVER. In 1982, BNA-7 and BNA-8 switched names! We think in early 1982 there were actually two CANADIAN RIVER cars.