Reportedly, 200 SD70ACes for BNSF will arrive sometime in 2008. Is the absence of present deliveries due to engineering modifications requested by BNSF?
I have heard anytime from late fall of this year to the beginning of next year they should begin to be built. I believe KCS and CN are also getting SD70M-2s. I’m not sure if NS is getting any more M-2s or not this year, plus I believe UP still hasn’t gotten all of its ACes for this year. I know there are still some in primer waiting to go to Horicon or are at Horicon for painting.
CN just put in an order last week for 25 more M-2’s for delivery in August '08, on top of the 25 already delivered and the 50 coming later this year (Aug-Oct).
I think BNSF will get rid of its more unusual engines before the SD40-2s. Group, I am now hearing rumors the B23-7 fleet is now stored at Kansas City. Does anyone know if they are stored there?
As you all know CN has 25 now (8000-8024) … they have 75 more being built as we speak and they will be 8800-8874. That brings their total up to 100 which was the oringal # they had options for.
Interesting. Last October while railfanning in Illinois, ex-CNW SD40-2s were being used on stack trains, auto racks and Mixed manifests in and out of Proviso. I was surprised, not just that they were the CNW units (nose bell), but that they weren’t newer units.
The C&NW SD40-2s have the C&NW ATC equipment, many modern UP locomotives lack this equipment so the ex-C&NW locomotive is tacked on for the trip across Illinois and Iowa.
[?] No time soon - UP has 650 active or in ready reserve. [Approx. 1200 delivered new to the now-UP roads: UP + CNW + SP + MKT] {trace done 8/7/07 * posted to LocoNotes Yahoo list}
UP total road power = 7188 locos, including 1240 SD70M’s
CNW’s 40-2’s delivered between 8/73 and 11/76. Oldest UP 40-2’s [3123-3148] delivered in January 1972. “Newest” 40-2’s (MKT) delivered 11/81 - still over 25 years ago. Loco retirements are usually due to mechanical deterioration - not age.
As “beaulieu” noted**,** ATC equipment is required on former CNW track carrying passenger traffic - any UP lines the Metra scoots share.
Nose bells will continue to haunt Altoona and other UP railfan spots for years to come.
111 (of the 132 assimilated) ex-C&NW SD40-2’s 84% remain in service. 94 of 111 (also 84%) were in the states of Iowa-IL-WI-MN {trace locations 8/7/07}
KUDOS [bow] to the Proviso loco servicing crews. UP power managers will continue to run no
I saw one of the ex-CNW SD40-2s the other day on a UP manifest here in the Phoenix area. It had been retired, sold and was wearing “LTEX” on the cab. So, even though some are retired, they continue to work - for Larry’s Truck and Electric!