BNSF B30-7As

[KBCpresident]

I was reading somewhere tht BNSF ran out of time on their lease with their seemingly huge order of B30-7As. Does anyone know what the deal with those engines was and if the statement in green is true. Also The unit inthe photo above has "Denver" written on it. Does that mean it is stationed out of Denver?

Thanks

 

[jrbernier]

  These 3000 hp 'boosters' were picked up via a typical lease(usually 15 years).  When the lease ran out, BNSF did not renew it or buy the units.  They went back to the leasing firm and were rented out/sold/scrapped.  Many locomotive orders are 'leases to buy' via equipment trusts and may/may not be picked up when the lease expires.

  The 'Denver' lettring may only be the location to send the engine to after teh lease expires.

Jim

[Railway Man]

"Denver" is the assigned maintenance point.  Others were Alliance, Lincoln, Northtown, etc.

RWM

[clash]

The Denver shop has since closed I believe.

[mudchicken]

The Denver shop has since closed I believe.

The small shop is still there (ex- CB&Q w/ turntable), but almost all work & people are up at Alliance since the merger. The old parts warehouse was converted to division offices. City of Denver has committed to buying the property soon w/ BNSF moving north on the Brush Sub. not far from where UP is going.

[Bryan Jones]

I was reading somewhere tht BNSF ran out of time on their lease with their seemingly huge order of B30-7As. Does anyone know what the deal with those engines was and if the statement in green is true. Also The unit inthe photo above has "Denver" written on it. Does that mean it is stationed out of Denver?

Thanks

 

 

 When the lease expired on these units several years ago they were indeed returned to the owner(s) by BNSF.This was over 5 years ago so the units have been gone for quite a while now.

 

 Bryan Jones-- Brooks,KY

[edblysard]

We have shipped at least a dozen of them to Brazil over the last two years...rebuilt and refurbished they will run for at least another decade.

I will see if I can find some photos of them here at the Port of Houston.

Ed

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Central Michigan has one or two of the boosters and Providence & Worcester has several of them.  Some are being used as peaking plants somewhere in California.

[KBCpresident]

Central Michigan has one or two of the boosters and Providence & Worcester has several of them.  Some are being used as peaking plants somewhere in California.

AS WHATS??!! 

[KBCpresident]

IF the B30-7As were only leased, as they obviously were, then why did BN paint and number them. Airlines do the same thing. But if they belong to someone else they are not yours to paint, right?

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Central Michigan has one or two of the boosters and Providence & Worcester has several of them.  Some are being used as peaking plants somewhere in California.

AS WHATS??!! 

Peaking plants are small gas-turbine or diesel powered electric generating stations that are fired up during periods of peak electrical demand.

[jrbernier]

IF the B30-7As were only leased, as they obviously were, then why did BN paint and number them. Airlines do the same thing. But if they belong to someone else they are not yours to paint, right?

Painting of the engine is something agreed upon by the owner and the railroad.  Long term lease to purchase trusts are a normal way to get engines.  Now the 'power by the hour' SD60's were owned by Oakway and BN/BNSF paid a charge for the amount of power used each month.  The LMX B39-8 units were in the same type of agreement.  Many times 'long term' leases will have the engines painted/numbered in the leasing roads scheme. 

Jim

 

[ericsp]

Central Michigan has one or two of the boosters and Providence & Worcester has several of them.  Some are being used as peaking plants somewhere in California.

AS WHATS??!! 

Peaking plants are small gas-turbine or diesel powered electric generating stations that are fired up during periods of peak electrical demand.

The owner of Sierra Railroad purchases some for that purpose, it even used to be on SERA's website. However, it seems like I heard that did not work out. I remember seeing some just sitting in a dead line (locomotives and cars) in Oakdale, CA a few years ago.

[broncoman]

Central Michigan has one or two of the boosters and Providence & Worcester has several of them.  Some are being used as peaking plants somewhere in California.

AS WHATS??!! 

Peaking plants are small gas-turbine or diesel powered electric generating stations that are fired up during periods of peak electrical demand.

The owner of Sierra Railroad purchases some for that purpose, it even used to be on SERA's website. However, it seems like I heard that did not work out. I remember seeing some just sitting in a dead line (locomotives and cars) in Oakdale, CA a few years ago.

 

I think that they wanted to convert them to run on biodiesel.  This happened when CA was going through rolling blackouts and such.  When Enron and the others went out of the business,  they were longer necessary or cost effective.  I remember there being about six or so that were going to be converted.