Falling in love with the BNSF mainline....

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

What is happening to me? I get so excited now watching the BNSF mainline, trackside. The mainline has been there within 5 minutes of driving ever since I was BORN! Sometimes before the real heat hit this year I rode my bike quite far (for excercise of course) and the mainline was my final goal. I have a blast watching all the consists from 5pm to 6:30 (and if you wait until 7:30, you get to see the shiny Amtrak Southwest Cheif with double or triple head Genesis locos).

What I need to know is what the head-end power is classified now??. Those shiny diesels with the “lightning” style livery of BNSF in orange I don’t believe are no longer nicknamed “Dash 8s” but I’m not sure. Some of the newer engines have ACxxxx on the side of the loco. Tower 55 and Kato I think puts out these models and I plan to purchase some, but I really need to know what is still in service on the main.

Some point me to some references for all the newer engines…thankxxx!!.

Regards,

Thomas P. Metzger

2

BNSF has all sorts of stuff running in lots of different paint jobs.

Newest engines are emd SD70MAC and SD70ACe and ge C44-9w, AC4400w and the new Gevo

engines

The ones marked AC have AC power in the motors.

3

Curt is right with his list. You will see most of the time. BNSF seems to have had a real love affair with GE. Most of the power you will see on mailine runs is Dash-9 and AC4400. Everynow and then, you will some old school power, SD40-2’s and such. You should check out railpictures.net and search the BNSF railroad section. be great way to learn about the locomtives and paint schemes. Worked for me [:)] Enjoy and glad you had a good time. Smiles are what it is all about

4

Canazar…you’ve done some outstanding layout work. I particularly like your roadbed and track. It appears you layed the track onto already-ballasted or painted roadbed, correct?? If it’s painted, did you use the “Granite in a paint can” spray stuff?? It looks great.

5

Perhaps this will help you.

http://westbnsf.smrn.com/roster.htm

http://www.thedieselshop.us/BNSF.HTML

http://www.trainpix.com/BNSF/ROSTER.HTM

6

Or even this;

There’s a whole bunch of BNSF info here (plus many other lines on the main page!).

http://alstom.proboards78.com/index.cgi?board=ggg

7

Your profile doesn’t say where you are near the main, but what you have missed! I was raised along the race track (Lamar CO, Granda CO, Garden City KS and Dodge City KS.). There was nothing like seeing the Super Chief, El Capitan, Grand Canyon, and California Limited come blasting through at 100 mph. Ah, the nasty 70 mph limit they have on most track now a days…