I was out railfanning today in the Northtown Yard in Minneapolis and I noticed about 20 or so SD45 locomotives from BN and SF lined up sitting in the yard. Are these headed for the paintshop or the scrap heap? Does anyone know the scoop? P.S. how do you correct typos in a subject heading? Thanks Matt [This message has been edited by mtaylor (edited 10 April 2000).] [This message has been edited by mtaylor (edited 11 April 2000).]
Could be retirements, as BNSF want to get rid of all 20-cylinder units. ------------------ 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
Oddly enough though I did see an SD9 in heritage two BNSF pumpkin colors. The SD9 is used as a switcher.
SD9 in Heritage TWO? WOW! ------------------ 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
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Alan: SD9 in Heritage TWO? WOW! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I Know I of course do not own a decent camera. Maybe I should rent one to grab a photo of this. It has the standard "BNSF" lettered on the side with an amber beacon on the cab. I did not get the road number either. I saw a website that the entire BNSF roster online. I believe all of the SD9's were either GN or NP units once apon of time (BN did get some from the Milwauke Road). There used to be alot of SD9's as switchers here in Minneapolis. I was blown away to see on painted in the new colors. I will see if I can get a photo of the SD9 and the rows of SD45's sometime soon.
From my understanding, the 45's are being stored serviceable due to a 'fuel saving programme'. Since there have been so many high-horsepower, fuel efficient units delivered in the last couple of years, it has given BNSF the leeway to remove the remaining SD45/45-2's from service. As for the SD9's, they all came from GN and CB&Q, except for two recieved from the DM&IR (rebuilt from SD7's to SD9's by Livingston Rebuild Center - LRC) and six via MRL, also rebuilt by LRC. All of these should be chop-nosed. The BNSF photo archives are found at; http://nietzsche.mit.edu/~auro/trains/photos/biel/BNSF/ Conversely, the BN photo archive; http://nietzsche.mit.edu/~auro/trains/photos/biel/BN/ For those wanting to keep an ear on the rail happenings in Minnesota, and neighbouring states, subscribe to MNRail at; majordomo@lists.visi.com no subject header, 'subscribe mnrail' (sans qoutes) if subscribing from your usual email address, or 'subscribe mnrail <your address>' (sans quotes) in the text body. Gary. Gary.
oops... forgot about the arrows. Subscribing to MNRail using other than your normal address 'subscribe mnrail you@address' Gary.
Apparrently there are about a dozen SDF45's and SD45's parked at Barstow too. ------------------ 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
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Gats: From my understanding, the 45's are being stored serviceable due to a 'fuel saving programme'. Since there have been so many high-horsepower, fuel efficient units delivered in the last couple of years, it has given BNSF the leeway to remove the remaining SD45/45-2's from service. As for the SD9's, they all came from GN and CB&Q, except for two recieved from the DM&IR (rebuilt from SD7's to SD9's by Livingston Rebuild Center - LRC) and six via MRL, also rebuilt by LRC. All of these should be chop-nosed. The BNSF photo archives are found at; http://nietzsche.mit.edu/~auro/trains/photos/biel/BNSF/ Conversely, the BN photo archive; http://nietzsche.mit.edu/~auro/trains/photos/biel/BN/ For those wanting to keep an ear on the rail happenings in Minnesota, and neighbouring states, subscribe to MNRail at; majordomo@lists.visi.com no subject header, 'subscribe mnrail' (sans qoutes) if subscribing from your usual email address, or 'subscribe mnrail <your address>' (sans quotes) in the text body. Gary. Gary.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Yep, that was the site I was thinking of. So, NP never owned any SD9's? I thought BN purchased some of the equipment from the dead Milwauke rd. Maybe I am way off track (bad joke I know). Am I going overboard, I thought a SD9 in BNSF livery was a rare thing. I never seen it or heard of it. Anyways, I am planning on back out to the yard this week to snoop around. Thanks for the info.
That is kind of a bummer. Of course, the SD45's are getting pretty old. The first SD45 I modeled was a GN sky blue Atheran in HO. Of course I made it look old (rusting heap on wheels to be exact). I went a little overboard on the weathering, it was one of my first attempts. In terms of horsepower, how does the SD45 compare to more modern locomotives? Thanks all
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by mtaylor: That is kind of a bummer. Of course, the SD45's are getting pretty old. The first SD45 I modeled was a GN sky blue Atheran in HO. Of course I made it look old (rusting heap on wheels to be exact). I went a little overboard on the weathering, it was one of my first attempts. In terms of horsepower, how does the SD45 compare to more modern locomotives? Thanks all<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Stock SD45's are rated at 3,600hp. ------------------ Have A Nice Day!
About those SD9's, I shot the 6158 in Luverne, ND on a westbound freight on August 5, 1999. This is the chopnosed unit with the newer style spartan cab. It was freshly painted in H1. It was certainly a surprise to see A)an SD9 in road service, and B)such an old loco with a fresh paint job.
BN and SF SD45's have been on the chopping blocks for a long time. Where do you think WC got all theirs? ------------------ RAILROADING-TO-THE-MAX, Burlington Northern/Santa Fe Style! Brent Tidaback, Member #234
Remember, Brent, some of the SD45's were past their 15 year leases when WC started up. They were not the most fuel efficient loco around, and were a maintenance hassle due to 4 extra cylinders over a SD40/-2, for instance. Also when they were sold off they were cheap and just the thing for a fledgling company - big hp, little $. They have proven good in service for WC once they got some TLC. Also SP and NYS&W (Susie Q) supplied SD45's to WC, though later. Gary. ------------------ Gary A. Rose The Unofficial TC&W page N to the Nth degree! [This message has been edited by Gats (edited 08 May 2000).]
The SD9 at the Northtown yard in Minneapolis is actually H1, Sorry my bust. There is also a BN SD9 there. Both units are used as yard switchers. (to the best of my knowledge). As far as the SD45's there is now twice as many as before staged on the side tracks (more twice really). A couple are in H1 but most are BN and ATSF. Matt
Did some of the SD45's make it into Heritage colours? Didn't know that. I know some SD9's have been painted but, from what I understand, that is mostly after SD9-3 upgrading to date. There are one or 2 straight SD9's that were early H whatever paints. I have a pic in Diesel Era of SD9-3 6155 coupled with 6158 at the Topeka, KS, shops with slightly different applications. Yellow strip is along the radius of the low-nose on 6155, but about 3" below the radius on 6158. Also 6155 has a roof A/C unit, 6158 not. An interesting adjunct to the SD45 thread. We will return to normal programming after this short break Gary. ------------------ Gary A. Rose The Unofficial TC&W page N to the Nth degree!
http://buynscale.com has a good custom paint job of a SD45 in "Great Pumpkin" H1 scheme. This is what the couple of SD45 units in the Northtown yard in Minneapolis look like. http://www.buynscale.com/Opening%20Page.htm Still seems like alot of motive power going to waste just sitting there. How long will the BNSF hang on to them before selling them off or scraping them. Do they have any good resale value to the new smaller lines? like WC, TCW or Minnesota Commercial Thanks Matt [This message has been edited by mtaylor (edited 08 May 2000).]
Thanks for the info on the SD45 repaints. I doubt WC would be in the market for any more. They have the ex-Algoma Central 40-2's now integrated and that should keep them fluid loco-wise. TC&W... no way - far too big for them. Besides, they have settled nicely into the 4-axle Cat repowered units and are quite happy with them. Minn Comm. Again, I doubt they would require something that large, but if the price is good... and the 45's do suit their 'rolling museum' status Gary. ------------------ Gary A. Rose The Unofficial TC&W page N to the Nth degree!
