How many of you, like me are sad to see all the B30-7A B-units retired? There must be some slack in the motive power department to be able to retire a large class like these. I was looking forward to seeing some in Heritage paint, I think they would have looked good - the GP9B's that have been so painted look great. Am I on my own on this one? ------------------ Alan www.ac-models.com http://Andersley.homestead.com http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com http://eurogallery.homestead.com
Alan, All I can say from my past, working with and on these things is good riddens. They may look pretty to you but they were a pain in the butt when you had to change consits around because of these beastee b units.
Point taken, Throttlejock ------------------ Alan The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.ac-models.com http://Andersley.homestead.com http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com http://eurogallery.homestead.com
I believe the final 52 units in this class are actually still on the roster and in the "surge fleet". They may have one more hurray (for railfans, not railroaders!)
These units were all off the fleet this time last year and were in Erie PA late last year to get cabs and be rebuilt for Saudi Arabia
I picked up the latest Diesel Era and there's a note on 5 of the units working for the P&W hauling stone... I was sad to see these units go too... i really loved their look. But i loved the B36-7s too and they are just about history too...
In them being retire and dismissed, no. On being painted in Heritage, yes! Gary. There's only ONE BN.
I've got to say I miss them too. They were both very rare as B units, but also common enough so as not to be impossible to bag. I caught a 10 unit line of the in Pasco a few months ago and consider myself lucky t have seen any at all at this late date.
<font color="336633">Its nice to know that there are still some knocking about, even if it is just in dead lines... I cant help but wonder if it were not for the BNSF merger these would still be roaming the rails today, BN was a big B unit fan and for them to go this soon after the merger </font>
That would be an interesting modelling project for someone so inclined. I wonder if the RR paint shop has drawings for on. Hmmmmmm.
Check out this photo of a N-scale B30-7A(B) built by Cpt. Tony Hammes. It's a beauty... http://www.tower55.com/pix/disc/b30-7a.jpg He used an Atlas B23-7 as the starting point, and he mentioned he might use the B30-7 to build a "Phase Two" model with the "hump". [ 28 December 2001: Message edited by: Doug A. ]
<font color="336633">I have done one of these in HO scale, I will get a pic of it done, its in storage at the moment.</font>