What does the 9 do to the locos [?]
Weren’t they all 12 cylinder 645’s??
If I remember correctly, GP39s are locomotives BN rebuilt from older locomotives. I removed the information I had on here about the others because it was incorrect.
EMD built GP39s, GP49s, and a few GP59s. All had twelve-cylinder turbocharged prime movers–645s in the GP39 and GP49, and 710s in the GP59s.
BN also rebuilt older locomotives into "GP39"s, as Eric stated, but I’m not sure what was involved there.
I believe “those” GP39s (the BNSF ones) were rebuilt from GP30s. Some were even given new “Dash 2” style cabs- aren’t those called GP39Es?
Check out the Field Guide to Modern Diesel Locomotives by Greg McDonnell, published by Trains Books. (Trains Magazine). These are EMD’s specs
GP39-2 = Turbocharged version of the GP38-2
GP49 = A 50 Series replacement for the GP39-2
GP59 = EMD’s start of the “3rd Generation”. A new 12 cylinder engine and microprocessors to control engine
functions. GP59 was considered the low end of the 60 series locomotives.
Much more info in the Field Guide.
Eola on the Q racetrack seems to draw a lot of GP30s these days, both ex-SF and ex BN. Recently I saw a BN green one with a flat cab roof, but it still had the distinctive GP30 shrouding along the hood. Could this be one of the rebuilds?
Correct you are, Eola sees a lot of GP30’s in all configurations, original and rebuilt units originally from BN or ATSF, but seldom (if ever) in newer BNSF paint. You can always tell a pair of unrebuilt GP30’s are coming towards you by the distinctive sound and resonence they make and the vibration to your ears as they pass you. Very nice sounding engines.
BNSF has genuine GP39-2’s (ex-ATSF and ex-BN) and several varieties rebuilt for BN from GP30’s and GP35’s from a variety of sources. The GP39E’s are numbered 2740-2768 and 2900-2940 and were rebuilt by EMD. The GP39M’s are numbered 2800-2834 and 2870-2899 and were rebuilt by Morrison-Knudsen. The GP39V’s are numbered 2960-2984 and were rebuilt by VMV in Paducah. The GP39-2’s are numbered in the same series as the rebuilds and fill in the gaps between those blocks.
Santa Fe also had the SD39’s (4000 Class, later 1500 Class) that were excellent low speed luggers and slug mothers. They all went to BNSF (2300 HP vs. 3000HP SD40-2)…They were common power on Raton Pass merchandise freights before the BNSF merger.
You also used to see GP39’s used instead of GP38’s in the higher altitudes of CO,KS,AZ on light trains because the turbocharged units were considerably more effective to their rated capacities at altitude.
Yes, they are, except the GP59/F59 (all variations) are powered by 12-710s, and considering that fuel prices are headed for god knows where,You can bet on seeing the new EMD looking at the 12 cylinder plant again. PBenham
Not quite… The GP40-2 was the turbocharged version of the GP38-2! The 38 has a non-turbocharged (i.e. normally aspirated) 16-cylinder engine, while the GP39-2 has a turbocharged 12-cylinder engine, making it a 12-cylinder version of the GP40-2!
-Mark
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