Athearn is coming out with another run of HO GP60Ms for BNSF and ATSF. The ATSF loco are #144, #148 and #152. Unfortunately, GP60Ms with these road numbers were destroyed in wrecks before the merger and scrapped. This has gotta be more than a coincidence. GP60M #148 and #152 only lasted several months on ATSF’s roster before they were both wrecked in Nov, 1990 at Corona, CA.
http://www.trainpix.com/bnsf/EMDORIG/GP60M/INDEX.HTM
‘and your point is?’,
If they never made it to the BNSF roster, then there is no questions about dates they were ‘patched’ or repainted. I would guess Athearn is pretty rock solid with the paint jobs…seems like they have done a good job of researching the subject matter.
Jim
‘and your point is?’,
I think his point is that if Athearn had picked GP60M’s that had made it to BNSF, the models would have covered a longer “era” span (1990 -1996 (or for carefully chosen ones)2001 or 2002) rather than a few months. Thus they would potentially be more useful. I think it’s a good point.
Ed
Athearn probably got the information messed up on what numbers not to make. They could have looked at their past runs and decided these have not been produced, and we know for what good reason. We should all email them to avoid the models being produced in BNSF for sure.
CZ
In addition to the 3 ATSF GP60Ms wrecked and scrapped prior to the merger, BNSF 142 was wrecked in a head-on collision near Gunter, TX in 2004. Like the other 3 before the merger, this GP60M was scrapped too. Athearn isn’t doing BNSF 142 though. I think these 4 are the total number of GP60Ms lost, leaving 59 on BNSF’s roster.
I’m just happy to know that Athearn is running the GP60M again. Hopefully this means that I can finally get some plastic handrails for my locos. Is there any word on them running any GP60B’s?
Is it really an issue that the Athearn units will be numbered for inactive units? I have Santa Fe PA’s and we all know they are no longer active. Not a big beal to me - just glad they will be available again.
Yes I believe they are