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Look at this EMD engine!

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  • Member since
    September 2005
  • 965 posts
Look at this EMD engine!
Posted by Lyon_Wonder on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 8:46 PM

Look at this engine! 

 

http://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=70653 

It has the brakes of a GP60, the carbody style of a GP35+ series and the fuel tank and air reservoirs of a GP7/9.  This is EMD's BL20, which was another attempt by EMD in the late 80s to reenter the road switcher rebuild market.  Only 3 were built from Ex-BN first generation geeps.  This loco wasn’t exactly a runaway success.  At least they’re still on someone’s roster.  I heard  EMD decided to keep the 567s in these engines and reconditioned them, not exactly a wise option when everyone else were installing 645s in other rebuilds.  Earlier in the late 70s and early 80s, EMD offered the GP15 series, which supposedly reused components from first generation geeps, and had a 12 cylinder or 8 cylinder turbocharged 645 to boot!          

  • Member since
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  • From: Rochester NY
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Posted by scottychaos on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 9:10 PM

I would say it has the brakes of a GP60, the carbody of a GP60, and the fuel tank and air reservoirs of a BL20.

Totally not seeing the GP35+ series..its nothing like a GP35 carbody..its much more modern, like a GP50 or GP60

Scot 

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Posted by ericsp on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 11:04 PM
If I remember correctly, they are actually called BL20-2s. They were rebuilt from GP9s.

"No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld)

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: BNSF MP968.3 in California
  • 247 posts
Posted by BNSF_GP60M on Friday, October 12, 2007 5:09 AM
I believe that two of the BL20-2 are in service on the San Joquin Valley Railroad. I have seen one go by Hanford's Super Walmart.
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, October 17, 2007 6:41 PM
All three are owned by railink and working in California.
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Posted by bakupolo on Wednesday, October 17, 2007 11:14 PM
I like it. Very good-looking. Doesn't that shroud under the left air intake mean it's turbocharged? Probably a strong little guy.
  • Member since
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  • From: Tn
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Posted by nsrayman on Thursday, October 18, 2007 6:37 AM

 

1992 Birmingham , Al

 

 

  • Member since
    September 2002
  • From: Maricopa, AZ
  • 269 posts
Posted by DanRaitz on Thursday, October 18, 2007 7:20 AM

If you want one for yourself, Erik Bergstrom had a article in the March 1997 MR on how to kitbash one.

 

Dan

If women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy .... Red Green

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