FURX

[Mookie]

Have seen several times a switch engine painted in the BNSFKCSCNNS - well ok, the BNSF green and white stripes, but with FURX instead of BNSF.

I am pretty sure this is First Union Rail just like the boxcars and it is probably a lease.

So why the BNSF paint job and why not put BNSF instead of FURX and lease it anyway?

Now there is a toughie for you!

Jen

[CShaveRR]

Why the BNSF paint job? Maybe (a number would have been helpful here) it's a former BNSF green unit that didn't get repainted when it was sold to First Union Rail.

Why not the BNSF reporting marks? Because BNSF wouldn't want to be responsible for it. If it's not their unit, they would be able to bill the owners for repairs made to it, and stuff like that. By the same token, if it were to go to some other railroad, we wouldn't want BNSF to get the lease money that First Union Rail deserves!

Mind you, I'm saying all this without knowing anything about the unit in question, or where (on whose railroad...I was assuming BNSF) you saw it.
But I hope you get the idea. That reporting mark is mighty important!

[Mookie]

Carl - I think you may be on to something. I don't remember seeing any number on it - I have seen it twice now. It is hauling freight cars out of the yard - maybe to the shops or to an elevator. It is on BNSF tracks and their yard. I am thinking FURX to BNSF and should have been thinking BNSF to FURX! Got it.

Frankly - looking at the poor thing - BNSF got the best deal!

Thanx

Jen

PS - you are a little too fast - now I have to go think of another question!

[mudchicken]

The "X" in the reyorting mark indicates that the unit is a lease unit and does not belong to a common carrier railroad. (There are similar rules, albeit with more exceptions , for the letters Y,Z and V...so we won't go there)...most likely the engines are there running off hours owed by brand-X railroad or one of the locomotive builders ... Woulds assume taht BNSF still has a long line of stored locomotives there on the west side of Lincoln (LUGO=Laid Up Good Order) that can be used if traffic picks up...

Also, painting a locomotive is an expensive proposition. It costs more to paint a locomotive than a boxcar and if the paint is in good shape and protects the sheet metal/ can survive the heat, then leave it alone until the painted surface fails ($$$) Many of these locomotives become scrapbait at the first hint of mechanical failure...

[DTomajko]

Jenny,sometimes the new owner of a used locomotive won't repaint it if the paint is in good condition.Repainting an entire locomotive is an expensive and laborious task,not usually undertaken on a whim.The party responsible for the cost of repairs must also be easily identifiable,hence the FURX initials.Also,if the leasing company sells or long-term leases the locomotive,they could possibly charge the new owner for repainting into the scheme of their choice.Also,some of the FURX engines were painted in a green/white scheme after rebuilding by Alstom(?) in Canada a few years ago and despite similarities are not former BN engines or paint.In the TV terminal here,when we work on a trailer,container,or chassis,we have to know who to charge the repairs to.Much of the equipment used is owned by several leasing companies,(i.e.,Flexivan,TIP,XTRA,Traclease are some),but the charges are billed to the lessor such as;NS,BNSF,Cosco,K-Line,Mearsk-Sealand,etc.I don't know the specifics of car or loco repair but would assume similar arrangements are used.I hope this helps a little,Stay safe and enjoy yourself,DT,Pa.

[Mookie]

You know - there are several engines of all colors "stored" out south of town in an industrial area. Bet these are LUGO! I never see them moved, but they look in very good shape to me.

Which brings me to my next question - what's a mudchicken?

Appreciate the info.

Jen

[Mookie]

I have seen this little guy twice and around here - you have to be fast, since nothing sits still unless you are in a hurry and get stopped at a crossing! I will look at him a little closer and see if they are true BNSF colors. It was just such a shock to see something besides BNSF. I saw a UP entire train the other day and couldn't believe it. They were renting the tracks I would assume!

Anyway - I have seen the FURX on boxcars, but never on an engine, so that is why I have to ask!

Again, so much to learn, so little time!

Thanx

Jen

[DTomajko]

Without something new to learn,life would be pretty boring.CSX was using some of the green ones here in Pennsylvania on road trains.By the way,the green used is noticibly lighter than BN green.Also,the loco might of been leased to a local shortline or grain elevator near the yard and has trackage rights into the yard to interchange with BNSF.Still learning too,stay safe and enjoy yourself.DT,Pa.

[mudchicken]

mudchicken=Railroad surveyor (so named by the locomotive crews because it looks like a chicken strut out there knee deep in mud & muck)

Worked BNSF r/w thru Lincoln 3 years ago. What a railroad maze/ spiderweb you work in if you're in downtown Lincoln! (It would have been even worse if CRIP, OL&B and CNW/CGW were still in place)

-mudchicken

[Mookie]

ah! OL&B is still here - at Abel's Ready Mix. The Rock Island was the biggest problem, since it went right thru what is now the heart of downtown.

Will put that in my notes

Thanx

Jen

[mudchicken]

I'm surprised that OL&B doesn't have "issues" with the football factory's pedestrian traffic, being near the campus like it is. Or does OL&B ever come out of the yard anymore? (nice looking switch engines on well maintained old track though)...

-mudchicken

[mudchicken]

Just realized what I asked. PLEASE don't answer that one, or the M&M turkeys will roost over here on this thread! oops!

[JoeKoh]

any power csx can get there hands on they are using here in ohio.furx green,blue engines and gray engines(reminds me of the old stealth paint yuk)If you want to see a mudhen come to Toledo.
stay safe
joe

[Anonymous]

Jen, I learned alot from DTomajko, keep him on line, ask him more questions!
TIM A

[DTomajko]

Ask away Tim,I'll try to help anyway I can but I apologize in advance if I don't answer right away.Long work days put leisure time in short supply.Besides that,if the question was answered by an equally knowledgeable person like Ed or Kevin,my input isn't always needed.Also,I've been staying mostly clear of the disturbingly common threads concerning m&m's claims and comments.Always learning,stay safe and enjoy yourself,DT,Pa.

[Anonymous]

Their too cheap to buy it.
marty

[Mookie]

OL&B now is called the Big Red Line - real no- brainer there. Abel Construction bought the line years back and it now runs off the tracks by the fairgrounds, under the Holdrege overpass and into the construction yard where they have a concrete plant. It never bothers any foot traffic, unless they are walking where they shouldn't be.

The BNSF still bothers the foot traffic around 14th street, but over by the stadium, (10th) they have built an overpass over all those many tracks which is both car and pedestrian friendly. When they get done with the Antelope Valley project, I will probably not be able to see any of the trains in that area. My loss! They even built a new baseball stadium for not only the UNL team but our local Saltdogs, west of the stadium and a pedestrian bridge over those tracks!

Would rather watch the trains than the baseball game and I like baseball!

Jen

[Mookie]

I think you are ok - one M is gone and the other one is mulling over my offer to him to reply again anytime. That's no fun, so think he is pouting!

:)

Jen

[Mookie]

Joe, now I am really determined to go hunt down that engine and look it over!

Jen

[Mookie]

Gee thanks Tim - I am running out of questions, my husband is going to put me in a cage if I don't quit talking about the forum and I am not getting a thing done here at work! My breaks and lunch hour are spent on questions!

Maybe we should ask the "railroaders" to give us unsolicited information - heavy on the information! Anything they think we might be interested in, which should keep them busy for years!

Jen

[Mookie]

You get some leisure time?

Jen

[Mookie]

Marty:

Ah. :)

Jen

[Anonymous]

I was told that "FURX" is Also knwn as Furby locomotives


Kev.

[Mookie]

Kev - it was cute, but not THAT cute.

Jen

[Anonymous]

i bet the furx locomotives don't say "FEED ME PLEASE" over and over therfore unrelated to those blasted furby things!

kev.