It looks like BNSF is getting more GP38-2s. Former GMTX GP38-2s have been spotted as renumbered BNSF 2040 and above, right after the NRE GP38-2 rebuilds. BNSF has put a large white wedge logo on former GMTX BNSF 2049. I thought I'd never see BNSF's logo on a loco that can be easily mistaken for a former Conrail.
http://bnsfsd70.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1737332
Lyon_Wonder It looks like BNSF is getting more GP38-2s. Former GMTX GP38-2s have been spotted as renumbered BNSF 2040 and above, right after the NRE GP38-2 rebuilds. BNSF has put a large white wedge logo on former GMTX BNSF 2049. I thought I'd never see BNSF's logo on a loco that can be easily mistaken for a former Conrail. http://bnsfsd70.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1737332
Can anyone explain why BNSF would buy GP-38 or rebuild them when the have a fleet of locomotive in storage?
Awesome!Lyon_Wonder It looks like BNSF is getting more GP38-2s. Former GMTX GP38-2s have been spotted as renumbered BNSF 2040 and above, right after the NRE GP38-2 rebuilds. BNSF has put a large white wedge logo on former GMTX BNSF 2049. I thought I'd never see BNSF's logo on a loco that can be easily mistaken for a former Conrail. http://bnsfsd70.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1737332 Can anyone explain why BNSF would buy GP-38 or rebuild them when the have a fleet of locomotive in storage?
How many of the stored locomotives are 4 axle locomotives? What are the conditions BNSF's current fleet of 4 axle locomotives?
"No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld)
Sometimes a railroad services plants or branch lines that require the use of a 4 axle locomotive.
Might be the BNSF has a need for more account of new business,or it has a aging fleet for this type of special requirement.
Collin ,operator of the " Eastern Kentucky & Ohio R.R."
I would buy the loco’s. I mean it is a very common locomotive that has served the railroad relatively well. Probably will be used in yard, and local service. Seems like that’s what the Geeps are used for these day’s.
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mackb4Sometimes a railroad services plants or branch lines that require the use of a 4 axle locomotive.
Actually it's not sometimes, RR's have had a need for four axle loco's since the beginning of the diesel era.
Recent times have produced a strange situation though. The cost of purchasing a new six ale loco is now not that much more than a four axle model. So to the managers and shareholders buying six axle units at first seems like a good idea.
As time marches on however, the existing four axle units age and the failure rate as a percentage of the total four axle fleet increases. Now you come to a point where you have a need for smaller units but you do not have enough serviceable ones left to do the job. So now you out in the marketplace looking for what are equally old units. Rebuilt units are still not the same as new units.
Sometime management is going to have to look past the apparent short term pain of paying prices similar to six axle units for the long term utility that four axle units will provide.
AgentKid
So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.
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That "sometime" may be quite a ways off yet though. GP9s are still in service in relatively large numbers, as are GP38-2s. Most likely the railroads will rebuild their four axle power with the latest technology upgrades.
All BNSF GP7/9 are stored at this point, wether they ever come out of storage, my guess would be not very likely. MOst if not all GP30's have also been stored along with some SD40's, GP35, GP38 and other odds and ends. Most locals are running around our area with the GP38 and the B40-8, and GP50-60 series engines SD-40 and Dash 9's if 4 axle power is not reguired. Any loco that is deemed ineffecient fuel wise is stored till bussiness picks up, otherwise I dont think you will see too many ever come back.
The 4 axle locomotive shortage will be answered in time, when the GP38 and GP50-60 series engines start to get to rebuild age, it will be intersting to see what comes out of it. Although for yard engines there are some new technologies that seem to be winning over the railroads as far as fuel economy goes.
The GMTX GP38-2's which have been acquired by BNSF were apparently part of a trade involving a group of BNSF SW1000 and SW1500 switchers that went to GMTX. Works well for both companies. BNSF is ridding itself of virtually all 1000hp and 1500hp end cab switchers while GATX has been adding a significant number of these types of units to its lease fleet. At the same time GATX has a large fleet of GP38-2 rebuilds and plenty more GP38 and GP40 cores onhand for rebuilding. In the end both companies get the types of locomotives each is looking for.
Bryan Jones
I believe BNSF is looking to retire the GP30s and some of the GP35s. BNSF is rebuilding some of the GP35s into GP39-3s and also is rebuilding some of the GP50s as well. It seems to me BNSF is trying to update their 4-axle roster.
When I first started seeing pictures of them I thought they were old Conrail locos. I think they're pretty interesting.
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