A picture of BNSF 9600 appeared on Railpictures today. Any idea of what is to come? http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=336503&nseq=9
Well, I have heard nothing coming from my corner of the railfan grapevine. I'd imagine quite a few people will wonder. It may be something very simple. Who knows? Someone tell us the answer? Boxcab E50
Hmm. Well, that's a new one to me. Hopefully, it mens a fresh paintjob and not "they set the loco on fire", which is what I'm familirar with wrapping engines like a christmas present.
It's going to Mexico my Friends. Check out the line-up at Alliance, Nebraska....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfFpMH1gkKw
You don't spend a bunch of money on a tarp just to send it over the border. I'm still not sure about all those units going to Mexico either, a bunch are back in service working coal trains...here, in the USA. As for BNSF 9600, word is you'll be able to find this unit in Glendive, MT in Long term storage. The shrink wrap is some kind of test, if it does what BNSF wants it to do it will be applied to more long term storage units.
If that plastic doesn't allow moisture in and out, or "breathe", I know what BNSF is going to find when they unwrap it in a couple of years. A giant lump of rust that used to be an SD70MAC.
Update Based upon what i have gathered through various sites today. BNSF 9600 is testing a long term storage idea of shrink wrapping. To be stored for upwards of several years. There is also a C40-8W currently wrapped, seen here.. BNSF 889 One valid point i agree with, is yes while this may protect paint, interior, and other stuff, what about the threat of a giant rust bucket emerging!?
Hopefully it breathes. If not... You'd think they'd have such a technology readily available. Boxcab E50
I think both of these units being tested, at least the 9600, are stored BO. Bad order to the point that they don't care too much about whats left at the end of the test if it fails.
To be unwrapped soon? I wonder what the BNSF 9600 might look like if unwrapped: all cleaned up but still in old paint scheme or the new paint scheme (Swoosh, maybe?)...
Someone said that it has been condemned for parts and will never run again. Just testing a half engine to see if it survives?
Yeah, like I said above. The BNSF 9600 is stored BO and it sounds like its days of pulling trains are over...thee end. Where better to test something that could destroy a unit than on one you don't care about. Also mentioned above, I don't think BNSF cares what they find under the tarp if it doesn't work. If it does do what they want, you'll see alot more tarped stored units, if it's deemed cost effective.
Shrink Wrapped BNSF 9600 It is a test for long term storage units and the 9600 is also being harvested for useable parts. The SD70 MAC's 710 engine can not meets new tier zero emissions. So the word is get all the useable parts off of her and she will proably be the first of many SD70 MAC'S to be scrapped, unless EMD can come with a four stroke savior to clean up thier emissions?
Not to question, as you probab;y have far more credib;e sources than I have sources, but if the EPA killed the 70s, then they just nixed probaly 70% of the railroading networks roster, and I don't see that flying. Also, don't the builders aim to stay ahead of those standards?