I have come across 3 BNSF locomotives this last week that were identified as EMD in 2013 and GE in 2014. I shot the photos of BNSF 7655 and BNSF 8230 consist and when I searched for build date and model on RRA 8230 came up as EMD SD 75M but the photo I took was identical to the BNSF 7655 GE ES44. A second search of RRA had 8230 in 2014 as GE ES44C4. I also found BNSF 8236 and BNSF 8281 listed both ways. What happened to the EMD's ? The photos I took are Clearly GE ES44 series. Thanks Don
power58 I have come across 3 BNSF locomotives this last week that were identified as EMD in 2013 and GE in 2014. I shot the photos of BNSF 7655 and BNSF 8230 consist and when I searched for build date and model on RRA 8230 came up as EMD SD 75M but the photo I took was identical to the BNSF 7655 GE ES44. A second search of RRA had 8230 in 2014 as GE ES44C4. I also found BNSF 8236 and BNSF 8281 listed both ways. What happened to the EMD's ? The photos I took are Clearly GE ES44 series. Thanks Don
Can't speak to these particular engines on BNSF.
Carriers will frequently change numbers of specific engine(s) to 'make room' in their overall numbering scheme for all their locomotives, especially when adding new locomotives to their rosters.
Working railroaders look to engine numbers to 'know' what kind of power they have on their train.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Thanks for the reply
power58I have come across 3 BNSF locomotives this last week that were identified as EMD in 2013 and GE in 2014. I shot the photos of BNSF 7655 and BNSF 8230 consist and when I searched for build date and model on RRA 8230 came up as EMD SD 75M but the photo I took was identical to the BNSF 7655 GE ES44. A second search of RRA had 8230 in 2014 as GE ES44C4. I also found BNSF 8236 and BNSF 8281 listed both ways. What happened to the EMD's ? The photos I took are Clearly GE ES44 series. Thanks Don
The EMD SD75Ms in the 8200 series were renumbered into the 200 series to make way for the new 2014 ES44C4s. Interestingly, some are recieving the same numbers that they had when they were new on the Santa Fe. Some have been returned to their lessors, and have gone to Norfolk Southern.
Thanks for the info, that clears up the changes.
The first batch of 51 SD75M locomotives have been returned to the Leasing Company. Due to a nationwide power shortage BNSF almost immediately leased again all those in running condition(all but 7). BNSF renumbered all the SD75M/I locomotives to clear their numbers for new GE ES44C4 locomotives by painting of the leading number "8" 8200 becomes 200 etc. Except for locomotives 8300 and 8301, which haven't been renumbered yet. The new lease is a short term lease whereas the original lease was for 15 years. Also in order to get the leased locomotives into service quickly the reporting marks are still BNSF for the time being.
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