BNSF GP60B 347 is at MEI in Kansas City having a cab installed. No date for release is known yet. I would expect the first unit to operate for a while being evaluated, if it is judged successful expect the rest to follow.
[8D] Any idea why they are converting these B units?
Just a guess, but probably versatility and the lack of traditional 4-axle diesel production over the last decade creating a need.
Jay
All of them have been in storage since they are hard to use on local freights without a cab. The alternative considered was to make them Remote Control Switchers, or scrap them.
The GP60’s are now used in California instead of the older power that cannot meet the Tier I, II, or III levels. All of the older power has been shipped out and only a few GP38’s remain. Probably all of the local units will be GP60’s but they are probably just an interim fix unless they can be upgraded to meet the lower levels of exhaust emisions for the coming laws.
The GP60M’s are being used around LA for the local runs and the control stands have been converted back from the table top type to the old standard from what I have been told.
CZ
The 1033 part that will upgrade a GP60 to meet the emissions standards will work equally well at upgrading a GP38, 39 or 40. Or for that matter a 59 such as BN had. So BNSF should have plenty of late model 645 based 4 axle units to make work for California.
Having said that, These cabless units were built for ATSF Superfleet service with fast short pig trains. While I’m sure they could be used still in stack and TOFC service, they would be oddballs, so it makes sense to cab them up.
I assume they are getting spartan cabs? I’ve heard their are new crashworthiness regs that they need to meet. So this is not a cheap rebuild.
Hopefully the GP60B’s new cab won’t look like the “Crandall” cab:)
Why have class 1 railroads stopped using B units?
Cab units are more versatile and the railroads don’t have to worry about placing A-units before B-units in consists. IIRC, the only cabless locos built in the last 25-30 years were GE B30-7As for BN and the GP60Bs for ATSF, both of which are 4-axle and originally intended for intermodal. The cabless GEs were retired from BNSF 10 or-so years ago, while BNSF still has GP60Bs. Besides the as-delivered B30-7As and GP60Bs, BN rebuilt several wreck-damaged GP38-2s and SD40-2s into cabless locos, which were presumably called GP38-2B and SD40-2B.
ATSF also had some SD-45B’s and some SD-45-2B’s in the fleet. Some of the 45-sB’s were the First to have a Relocated DB blister that showed lower Heat in the Grids when they were not sitting on top of the Engine. Next thing you see on the SD50 EMD relocated them to the front of the Engine. Wonder where they got that Idea from the Guys at San Bernadenio maybe.
better ask the guys at San Bernadenio where they got the idea from, because it was EMD who first relocated the dynamic brakes. SD40X came along in 1979, the SD50S in 1980 and production SD50 in 1981. The ATSF SD45-2B’s with relocated dynamic brakes didn’t come along till late 1987 and early 1988. Several years before ATSF did this the BN had already rebuilt one SD40B and one SD40-2B with dynamic brakes relocated as well. ATSF just jumped on the bandwagon.
Bryan Jones
Some time in the 1950’s, CB&Q broke up its TR2 sets and put stock cabs on its TR2B’s, turning them into NW2’s. They lasted for quite a while on BN. Some of IC’s SD20’s were rebuilt from UP SD24B’s. In a really unusual twist, there is/was a slug on EJ&E/Gary Ry that started life as a URR TR5B, was cut down to a slug and later fitted with a control cab.
http://www.ejearchive.com/page_dieselroster_tslugs.html See T6/CC1
Or a CF7!
Plenty of Spartan Cab units int he Scarpyards to get one from.
One of the primary reasons is that EMD and GE started charging more for cabless units than for “off the shelf” road power.The B units were custom orders requiring engineering changes to the designs…
Cabless units also lose a lot of flexibility since they have to be controlled by another unit and cannot lead. This was less of a factor prior to 1960 when four or five unit lash-ups were close to the norm but can become a real problem when a lash-up of two or three units is more common.
When will it be available for public viewing?
Andrew