Could someone tell me what year Burlington Northern started painting some of their road units with a white faced cab? And when that happened, did all subsequent units receive that paint scheme or just certain ones?
I would also like to know if the BN ran GP50’s at all, and if so, in what types of service?
Thanks alot.
I belive the white face paint scheme was applied to only a slect few of the locomotive fleet. I dont belive it was to popular. The only loco’s i seen with the white face where sum SD40-2’s, C30-7’s and the SD60M’s. But only a few of these where paintied like that.
The BN did use GP50’s. I think they ordered 53 units road numbers 3110-3162. These where ordered in 1985. the last 5 GP50’s in the BN order numbers 3158-3162 had enlarged cab’s to fit the entire train crew (conductor,enginer,2 brakemen) This reducing the nose length from the usual 88 inches to 65 inches. BN 3162 was the last GP50 ever built.
I belive that the BN used there GP50’s in coal and TOFC service. They also used fuel tenders spliced in between other units for extra fuel.
P.S. train crew’s hated the GP50 because it rode to hard. Hope this answers your question. Im sure other’s will add to this too.
BN started the “whiteface” scheme in '89 and continued on through at least 1991. Almost all types of locomotives were fair game. The MK rebuilds (GP39M’s)especially were getting this scheme applied. Then of course the SD60M’s came standard with the whiteface. Many SD40-2’s, C30-7’s and GP50’s also got the treatment. After the GP50’s, the only diesels BN purchased were the SD60M’s until moving to the executive scheme in the SD70MAC’s.
Check out:
http://www.fobnr.org/whiteface.htm
The BN GP50’s were originally delivered in the “Tiger Stripe” scheme with orange and black stripes on the front, but were all repainted into the whiteface scheme after only a few years in service. In my experience (Texas) they worked mostly manifest freights and occasionally intermodal and grain but I never saw them in coal service as the SD40-2’s, C30-7’s, SD60M’s, and Oakway SD60’s (and later the Big MAC’s) were king in that realm.
I know I’ve seen some older “high nose” SD’s and “low nose” GP9’s and GP40’s painted in the white face scheme. Also the yard slugs that were made from SD9’s (TEBC6’s) also wore a version of this scheme. I hope this helps.
I believe this was the last “official” color scheme of BN, other than the “executive” scheme applied to the SD70MAC’s. I know that when the BN Sales Rep. brought me a model SD40-2 for my desk, it had the “whiteface” scheme. BN gave out the nicest models, Athearn dummies with added details like a cabtop warning light, numbers in the number boards, and painted handrails, including white at the steps.
Just recently I got an N-Scale BN Gp40 number 2803. I just wondering what number did Burlington Northern numbered their GP40’s
BN’s GP40’s were numbered 3000-3039. 2803 would be a GP39M, rebuilt from a GP30. What manufacturer is this GP40 from?