BNSF leasing SD70MACs to Mexico

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

According to locophotos, BNSF’s going to lease SD70MACs to a Mexican railroad. The SD70MACs all appear to be former BN locos. Possible road numbers are 9643, 9646, 9647, 9648, 9649, 9650, 9651, 9652, 9653, 9654, 9656, 9657, 9658, 9659, 9660, 9661, 9663, 9665, 9666, 9668, 9669, 9670, 9672, 9673, 9674, 9675, 9676, 9677, 9678, 9679, 9681, 9682, 9683, 9684, 9685, 9686, 9687, 9713, 9714, 9716.

http://www.locophotos.com/Read.php?ThreadID=16877

It looks like BNSF 9647, the well-known Vomitbonnet is on the lease list too. I wonder if the Mexican road will repaint the SD70MACs into their colors, or they be roaming around Mexico as patch jobs in their cream and green paint? It’s also worth noting that BNSF’s leasing out the later BN #9600-series SD70MACs with the isolated cab, and not the earlier BN #9400-9500 series SD70MACs.

IMO, it would be neat if MRL and some other US regionals acquire second-hand SD70MACs at some point too (though that wouldn’t be good news for MRL’s SD45/45-2s)

2

They won’t patch or repaint them unless it is a long term lease. I think the reason this batch is being leased out is because the lower numbered locomotives have received their overhauls in the last couple of years, these will need CFR 1033 certified overhauls before they can return to work in the US (Tier 0+ emissions upgrade).

3

I’m surprised that they are leasing the SD70MAC. I was under the impression that those were really good locomotives.

4

Are the former BN SD70MACs directly owned by BNSF, instead of being on lease to BNSF themselves? This could mean BNSF has the right to have the SD70MACs returned too them. I guess BNSF could be leasing these SD70MACs in the same way HELM and other leasing companies lease out “rent-a-wreck” patch jobs.

5

Same manner that CN is ‘acquiring’ (not sure if buy or lease) ex-UP/exx-CNW C40-8s?

6

Is there a way to find out who rated this thread as only one star?

7

I’m so clueless, I don’t even know how to vote for a thread.[D)]

8

The word I have received says that BNSF has leased 40 SD70MACs to Ferromex for 90 days with an option for a further 30 days.

9

Not that I’ve ever found. You’d think, if someone has that strong of an opinion, he’d be willing to share it.

10

Before the last forum upgrade, we could click on the stars on the forum page, and a list of thread voters would appear, along with their votes. This thread received a one star vote, and then probably three more votes of 5 stars each.

I believe the primary reason this forum exists would be to expose the magazine to non-readers, hoping they will become interested enough to buy the magazine. This thread contains accurate information which is likely to appear in the magazine in a month or two, and it puzzles me that someone thinks this thread shouldn’t be on the forum.

I can beat that. Two weeks ago I tried to figure out who gave the May Diner thread 1 star, and I managed to also give it 1 star. Opps!

11

Well Duh! That’s why I have kids. Someone in my house has to be smart enough to handle the technology issues for Cro-magnnon Dad. [D)] Who do you think puts those phone numbers in my cell phone for me?

12

Is there some sort of surge in traffic on Ferromex, that they would need 40 additional locmotives for only 90-120 days?

13

Back in the dim and not-so-distant past, short term leases like this were not that unusual, the Midwestern grain harvest was a common cause of a traffic surge and power shortage. Rio Grande held onto its older F units to serve primarily as leasers, other roads may have done the same thing.

14

Maybe they have a lot of really good SD70MAC’s sitting idle right now, and see a way to get some revenue out of them?

15

Questions

  1. What is the present ownerships of Ferromex?

  2. Could it be W.B. is taking a look?

16

Ferromex is jointly owned by the UP, and by a corporation owned by the only man richer than Bill Gates and Warren Buffett.

17

According to Mexlist ( http://www.mexlist.com/railways.htm ),

Ferromex (Ferrocarril Mexicano, S.A. de C.V.) is owned 55.5 percent by Grupo México, S.A. de C.V., 26 percent by Union Pacific Railroad, and 18.5 percent by companies controlled by Carlos Slim Helú (Grupo Carso, S.A. and Grupo Financiero Inbursa, S.A.).

Carlos Slim may very well be involved in the ownership of Grupo Mexico also.

Regards

Ed

18

What is the average lease $$ per locomotive?