An old work horse of a different color

[n2mopac]

Back in 1999 I was living in Carrollton, MO where the BNSF line from Kansas City to Chicago passes through. Carrollton had once been a busy railroad town. No longer so, but it still has two grain elevators, one pretty large, and one other industry still served by rail so some switching does take place there atleast once a week.

One day in 1999 I was driving across the tracks on Main St. and something caught my eye on the siding. I turned around, only half believing what I had seen, and took a side street that parallels the siding to get a closer look. The new BNSF paint scheme was very new then and many loco's were being painted from their fromer BN or ATSF colors to the new scheme at the time. Upon closer examination my initial reaction was correct, there was a GP-9 with its high nose intact freshly painted in the new BNSF scheme. I was surprised to know that any of thses old work horses still existed in class 1 service, let alone were receiving new paint and were making it out onto the main.

Here is my question. I assume that this and any other of these older engines are used for yard switching and local peddler service, but Carrollton is 75 miles from the nearest yard (Kansas City), so what was this guy doing there? It was parked and not coupled to any cars, and it was gone the next morning when I returned with my camera. Also, how many of these old Geeps still exist and are in service on BNSF or other class 1's? I have never seen another one, but I would like to know if others have.

Thanks,
Ron

[jchnhtfd]

I don't know how many GP-9s are still running -- but I can tell you from my own experience that the things are bullet-proof and, given a little maintenance now and again will run forever!

[espeefoamer]

A couple of months ago,I saw a GP7 in new BNSF paint,in Fullerton.

[JoeKoh]

they have an old gp 9 high nose in BN green on the maumee and western here in Defiance.
stay safe
Joe

[Anonymous]

Last year I could have sworn I saw a GP7/9 in Grand Trunk Western paint in (are you ready for this) northern Idaho.

-Daniel

[mudchicken]

BNSF still has quite a few SD-9's (ex BN) left out there along with GP-9m's (low nose ex ATSF) and just a few GP-9B's like Mookie's BNSF 1701....Beyond yard service, they work industry switch jobs where there is light rail and sharp curves....the engines are not quite as hard on old track as the bigger heavier units.

Just worked at Carrolton on the old Wabash NS main track and it remains busy. GP-9 in the middle of nowhere very well may have been a work train engine or set-out for another train to pick-up and take to BNSF Argentine....a quick way to check on BNSF on the pedigree of the locomotive....Almost all of the surviving ATSF units have big "boxy" Topeka cabs and low noses, BN units are just the opposite with the original EMD round top cabs and high noses....any surviving end cab EMD switchers were BN.

The grain elevator on the west side of Carrollton keeps an old black IC switch engine to push grain hoppers around as does Brunswick.

[n2mopac]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

BNSF still has quite a few SD-9's (ex BN) left out there along with GP-9m's (low nose ex ATSF) and just a few GP-9B's like Mookie's BNSF 1701....Beyond yard service, they work industry switch jobs where there is light rail and sharp curves....the engines are not quite as hard on old track as the bigger heavier units. . . .

The grain elevator on the west side of Carrollton keeps an old black IC switch engine to push grain hoppers around as does Brunswick.

The industrial trackage at Carrollton is old, light, and tightly curved not to mention little maintained for the most part. I used to enjoy watching the NS on the far south of town too with their high nose modern units, many running long hood forward, pulling double stacks, auto's, and road railers. I have watched and photographed the switchers at both Carrollton and Brusnwick when I was living there--great old engines extending their life there. There is also an old former Erie Lackawanna Geep being used as a switcher at the grain elevator that in inside town right along the main. I have a number of photo's of this old beauty now lettered for Midwest Rail but still wearing her EL colors. Always good to hear from someone who is railroading in my old stomping grounds. Thanks for your input.
Ron

[fuzzybroken]

Last Monday (3/15) I spotted Wisconsin & Southern RR's lone switcher (SW1200 1202) pulling a couple cars out of "North" Milwaukee yard. I chased the train down to the end of the line, where the engine switched a customer before heading back. Got some great pictures too!!! See 'em at my Epson PhotoCenter, http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumList?u=4081832

Be sure to check out my web site as well.

Thanks!
-Mark Hintz
http://www.geocities.com/fuzzybroken