Trains.com

B&O EMD GP40s

3434 views
9 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Vicksburg, Michigan
  • 2,303 posts
B&O EMD GP40s
Posted by Andrew Falconer on Friday, December 28, 2007 11:06 PM

While looking up information on the C&O Carferry Badger, I noticed that the B&O GP40 4005 was pushing cars in Ludington, WI.

Then I looked up more information about the B&O GP40 4005 and it was noted that it was maintained in Toledo, Ohio.

This would mean that the B&O GP40 spend most of the 1970's on the former C&O lines in Michigan and Ohio.

Were all the B&O GP40's assigned to a regular route or did they freely roam the system.

The B&O GP40 4005 was never repainted in the Chessie or CSXT scheme from the photos I found. How did the GP40 escape repainting during that 15 to 20 year time period?

Andrew 

Andrew

Watch my videos on-line at https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 166 posts
Posted by Cris_261 on Saturday, December 29, 2007 12:01 AM

I've never lived in Chessie System territory, but judging from pictures taken before the CSX consolidation, Chessie System seems to have been slow to repaint their predessor railroad locos. With the GP40 (and later GP40-2) being a favorite locomotive of the Chessie affiliated railroads it's possible that the locomotives were for system wide use.

From here to there, and back again.
  • Member since
    March 2016
  • From: Burbank IL (near Clearing)
  • 13,492 posts
Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Saturday, December 29, 2007 6:44 AM

The GP40's and GP40-2's were indeed system locomotives.  I can recall seeing lash-ups including them sublettered for C&O, B&O and WM on either former B&O or C&O trackage.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Vicksburg, Michigan
  • 2,303 posts
Posted by Andrew Falconer on Saturday, December 29, 2007 9:51 PM

In the Green Frog Video "RAILS CHICAGO" there is a shot of a mixed consist of Chessie System Diesel Units that with units lettered for both C&O and B&O. Chicago must have gotten a bit of everything from B&O, C&O, WM during the Chessie System years.

At The Train Barn I was expecting the store to receive a Mike's Train House O Scale model of a Chessie System GP40 sublettered for C&O, yet the one that arrived was sublettered for B&O. I will go ahead and buy it sometime in the coming year since the B&O and C&O GP40's could be seen anywhere there is a Chessie System train.

Andrew

 

Andrew

Watch my videos on-line at https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Mesa, AZ
  • 778 posts
Posted by silicon212 on Sunday, December 30, 2007 1:12 AM

Many of the old B&O GP40s were acquired by MK in the late 80s / early 90s and were rebuilt into GP40-2s for Southern Pacific (and by extension, SSW numbered 7274-7299 and 7100-7137).  4004 had the serial/frame number 38484 and was built in 1971.  After doing some research, I located this unit.  It now belongs to Locomotive Leasing Partners (joint venture of EMD & GATX).

http://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=14642 

B&O S/N 38485, unit 4005,

http://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=16798

In it's current incarnation, it is a CDOT GP40PH-2.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=60886

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Vicksburg, Michigan
  • 2,303 posts
Posted by Andrew Falconer on Wednesday, January 2, 2008 10:18 PM

It is great to know that CSX had reassigned the B&O 4004 to MOW service before sending it away. It just proves that these GP40's are still dependable with the proper maintenance.

The Bright Orange paint is so solid that is had no bleed-through of the old B&O scheme like on some of the "Bright Future" repaints.

Andrew

Andrew

Watch my videos on-line at https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • 56 posts
Posted by crpulse on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 8:43 PM
All Chessie locos bought new were assigned to one of the subsidiaries, but roamed the system. They even assigned new GP40-2s to the WM even after most of it had been abandoned.
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: WSOR Northern Div.
  • 1,559 posts
Posted by WSOR 3801 on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 2:18 AM

A couple of ex-B&O GP40s have migrated to the WSOR,

GP38 
3801  4/2000  1971 ex-CSXT 6626, nee B&O 4051 (GP40)
GP38 3802  4/2000  1971 
ex-CSXT 6608, nee B&O 4033 (GP40)

deturboed along the way.  Here is one before and after paint.   

Mike WSOR engineer | HO scale since 1988 | Visit our club www.WCGandyDancers.com

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Vicksburg, Michigan
  • 2,303 posts
Posted by Andrew Falconer on Thursday, January 10, 2008 9:17 PM
Those are great photos.
Andrew

Watch my videos on-line at https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer

  • Member since
    May 2004
  • From: central Indiana
  • 775 posts
Posted by philnrunt on Thursday, January 24, 2008 12:30 AM

   In central Indiana, GP40s and 40-2's were pretty much everywhere on both former C&O and B&O lines. They were, by far, the most seen loco in the mid-late 70's around here.

    ConRail had mostly 38-2's assigned locally, and N&W ran high hood 38's and 38-2's.

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy