Trackside Guides

By the (right of way)...

Several BNSF, ex-ATSF GP30s remain in local service in southern California. Last November, I photographed two of them on a local (with a real ATSF-painted caboose on the rear end!!!) passing the Amtrak/Metrolink depot in Fullerton. It's nice to see classic rolling stock still in service alongside the bilevel coaches, doublestacks and widecab locomotives that dominate trains through this hot spot.

Sorry, I forgot to mention several other recent GP30 sightings. I spotted two Palouse & Coulee City GP30s just last March while on a business trip to eastern Washington. One of them, still in P&CC red and black, was on a grain train coming off the Walla Walla line at the UP junction at Wallula, southeast of Pasco.

The other, painted in an overall yellow scheme, was parked at the P&CC, ex-Blue Mountain RR yard in Walla Walla, and lettered as a Remote Control Platform unit.

Puget Sound & Pacific #3005 was parked at UP's ex-SP Brooklyn (Portland, Ore.) Yard Just yesterday (June 17), among the wide range of other classic rolling stock owned by the preservation groups that use the old roundhouse there.

It was apparently waiting movement out after receiving some repairs by Doyle McCormack's shop crews. The local railfan grapevine reported that the Portland & Western had leased it to help handle an upsurge of traffic.
Incidentally, the P&W is also currently leasing an ex-Amtrak SDP40F/ATSF SDf40-2, (Amtrak #644), the same one that BNSF painted in Maersk Sealand colors (which it still wears). This unit is one of the privately-owned locomotives that calls Brooklyn home.

Southern GP30s 2526 and 2641 were rebuilt in 12/65 as GP35s. This was done on account of  wreck damage. Source of data A J Kristopans EMD Serial Number Page.

It would be nice if the researchers and sound recorders for LIONEL traveled to Duluth to take photos and record sounds so they make a totally accurate version of Soo Line #700. They already make the EMD GP30 and the ALCo FA-2 Trucks. The people working at Lionel need to make sure the rest of the details are right. It is great to know that a GP30 has been fully restored.

Andrew

Soo Line and Milwaukee Road GP30s were placed on ALCo trucks.

From what Locomotives did the ALCo trucks originate?

Andrew

The Milwaukee Road, Soo Line and GM&O GP30 trucks were GSCs with GE 752 traction motors. The CMSP&P trucks came from traded in RS3's, while Soo Line and the GM&O ones came from traded in FA's.

Andrew Falconer wrote:

It would be nice if the researchers and sound recorders for LIONEL traveled to Duluth to take photos and record sounds so they make a totally accurate version of Soo Line #700. They already make the EMD GP30 and the ALCo FA-2 Trucks. The people working at Lionel need to make sure the rest of the details are right. It is great to know that a GP30 has been fully restored. Andrew

Well if they ever want to come up here, they sure are welcome!

Boy does she look nice. She also handles real nice and smooth. We added an RS5T near the exhaust stack becasue the crews were complaining about how loud the Leslie over the cab was. I dont know myself, when I ran her I just let that baby wail, but maybe thats me.

We also added a gyralight on top.

If anyone wants to see some really nice pictures of here go to railpictures.net and look up Dave Schauer, and keep scrollling till you find the night pictures with her and the FP7 #2500.

 

Also, regarding BNSF GP39E's, most do still have the GP30 cab and fins, but some only have the fins. They are pretty easy to spot.

Dale, I do appreciate this lsit. Ever considered work for TRAINS?

milwaukee roads trucks for their gp30's came from alco rs-3's

cvr gp30 # 3020 ex drgw # 3020 as of oct 27,2007 is still on the cvr and is in the shop has never left

Thanks Hawk. Has 2030 returned to service since it was damaged during 2003 ?