On my way home today I saw an engine I've never seen before....As it was coming down the tracks it appeared to be the usual SD70/8-40/9-44 but as it got closer I realized that it was Waaay too short. By then I only got a brief glimpse.........It was a wide cab, had 3 radiator fans , and it was a bright shiney BNSF heritage II paint scheme. Does BNSF have some wide cab GP40's? I couldn't get an angle to see the trucks, so I don't know if it was 4 axle or 6 axle, but a 4 axle would be VERY rare around here. I also didn't see any other fan shrouds . Unfortunately no picture either. Anyone have a clue what I saw?
No...sorry. Like I said, I was on the road that runs next to the tracks going the opposite way, and by the time I could see the engine from the side and realized it was something unusual I didn't have much time to take things in. From the size and from the 3 radiator fans (and lack of other fans) I'd say it was a GP40, but we almost never see anything up here unless it has 6 axle trucks. At least not in BNSF colors. It was headed east with another engine pulling a short (20 to 30 cars) group of open hoppers.
I would say a GP60M, when you say 3 radiator fans to me it sounds like it has to be a EMD and a GP60M is the only wide cab Geep's BNSF has. Kevin
Thanks Pat (and Kevin)...I think you may be right. I looked up a pic of a GP60M and that's pretty close to what I saw. Like I said, I almost never see any GP's up here except MRL's old GP9's and GP35's. And it was obviously a brand new paint job....maybe it was just passing through on it's way back home from a rebuild/paint.
Where in Montana, it could have been one of the extended cab GP50's. I also see the 60's thru Helena often.
I know MT is a huge state, but where in MT? I'm in Great Falls.... I would have suggested the extended GP50, but I think you nailed it with the GP60M.
A GP60M has a fourth fan, since they all have dynamic brakes. The only engine exactly matching your description is a GP40-2LW, which BNSF doesn't have. http://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=59893 Wouldn't a new paint job be H3? http://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=28627
I concur with the 60M assessment. I used to see GP60Ms coming through Vancouver Wa fairly regularly. Although, I can't say for sure if they were coming from back east or from down south.
To answer the last few questions..... LADiver & Hemi - Belgrade ,along the MRL mainline. Can't say I see everything that goes by, but my front porch overlooks the line from about 100 yards away, and I've never seen one of these before. Triplex- There could have been a 4th fan, if it sits more flush with the hood, it definitely didn't stick up like the other 3. And I believe H3 is the "swoosh" scheme? This was definitely H2 , but very bright and very shiney...didn't look like it had many miles on it. The shine was what really caught my eye.
