Why did Burlington Northern return the 3 SD60s they got in late 1985? I know they went back to EMD, and today are on CSX, but I’m wondering why they returned those ones, yet leased 100 others. When did they go back to EMD? What were they used for between that time and the time they went to CSX?
EMD leased 8300, 8301 and 8302 to BN for a two year demonstration. They then went to the Soo Line for one month followed by a short term lease to SP (as 300-302).
I wish BN had kept them, because they would have looked nice repainted into BNSF H1, and provide an excuse to model a conventional cab SD60 in BNSF H1 or H3.
I forget why, BN then received 9000 thru 9099 and left them in EMD colors. I think they were on lease the whole time? anyway they didn’t make it to the BNSF roster.
Yes they were leased from Oakway. And they still are. BNSF even has EMD 3 in place a wrecked Oakway SD60.
I still see Oakways SD60’s from time to time on the BNSF. I have seen some models of BN SD60’s with the black-and-orange “tiger stripes” on the nose…don’t know whether there really were any like that or not, though.
Yes, the 3 original demonstraters that this thread is talking about were painted in the Tiger paint scheme (which I find strange for demo’s). The 100 Oakway’s were leaser’s paint in an EMD/Oakway scheme (again, strange. the paint schemes should have been reversed). Different units.
During 1985 the people operating Burlington Northern chose a new variation on the old BN scheme to apply to the GP50 and SD60 locomotives acquired from EMD. The GP50 order was started early in 1985 and the SD60 order was delivered in late 1985. The orange stripes were a high-visibility experiment. The road numbers were place on the side of the cabin. The Name and BN logo were on the long hood.
archive.trainpix.com/BN/EMDORIG/SD60/8300.HTM
Andrew
The Oakway SD60s were leased under the infamous “Power by the Hour” scheme, whereby BN paid for the electricity generated by the diesel engines on the locomotive. So they paid more when the locomotive was running at full throttle, and nothing when idling. BN did cover fuel and some supplies like sand.
BN came up with the “Power by the Hour” concept as an attempt to evade the restrictions in labor contracts with the various shopcraft unions, led by the IAM. Since the attempt failed, “Power by the Hour” never went beyond the two initial fleets (the Oakway SD60’s and the LMX B39-8’s).
EMD3 was swapped for the Oakway fleet 9041 (I could have that number wrong) that went to EMD and became the mule for the EM2000 computer system development. Since that unit was completely rewired in a prototype application, EMD did not want to support it in the field. When the lease expired it was negotiated that EMD3 with the prototype HTCR radial trucks (which were replaced with current production HTCR trucks) would substitute permanently for 9041. 9041 remains at TTCI in the EMD braking unit fleet last I knew.
Dave