Ok this is a BNSF Question in need of help.

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

To this very day the BNSF runs their SD70MAC’s with one H2 & one Cream&Green on the Point of their Coal Trains all the time.
Is it just that the BNSF just likes to run these two different matched Paint’s together and not the a set of 2 Cream&Green’s or the 2 set’s of H2’s together?
Any more it’s rare that I will see a set of C&G’s or the H2’s ever together,What’s up?
Sure I love to see a solid set of Cream&Green or a solid set of H2 every once in a while but the set of one H2 with an Cream&Green just makes me wounder.

Train set’s.
Cream&Green&H2.
or
H2&H2.
You know what I mean I hope don’t you?
I know that Paint doesn’t matter,But…
Thanks.
[bow]BNSF[bow]

2

Probably because the newer units (orange) have DPU, and the older units (green and cream) do not. So the older units are only good for trailing position on a DPU train, at least if they’re on the head end. As long as any unit on the rear is DPU equipped, it doesn’t matter what position it’s in.

In other words, you gotta see past paint. It’s only skin deep.

3

I recall seeing coal trains through here in Aurora with two cream/green units in the past six months or so.

4

Eola, was it a DPU train? Or all power on the head end?

OS

5

O.S., I never, ever, see a DPU coal train through here and there are very many coal trains every day of the week. All the coal through here have all the power on the head end. Where does BNSF run DPU trains to and from (other than Powder River)? Again, all BNSF coal trains through Aurora on their way to Chicago have power up front (and I have been watching the BNSF and BN for over twenty years here in Aurora). Jim

6

Jim: That would help to explain why you can see trains with two Grinstein-green units, and BNSFrailfan cannot. The train’s he’s seeing are DP trains, while the same trains by the time they reach you are running single.

I’d have to make a few phone calls to know where DP is running today on BNSF. The practices change faster than I can keep up.

OS

7

Gentlemen: Daily and about every other hour, we run DPU through here going south out of Lincoln.

The ones headed east run front end power only - usually…

BNSF Mook

8

Gee, on our line we get plenty of DP coal trains, but very little variety in paint schemes.

Oops, I’m sorry–we’re not on BNSF! [}:)]

9

Last week through central MN there was an empty coal train heading west with two orange SD70MAC’s on the point and none on the rear.

One thing to add to this, I’ve been seeing all kinds of ex Santa Fe SD75M’s on coal trains through here too.

10

We get the occasional 75, but not enough. Saw a 60 yesterday, but it was on freight. Most of our coal is either SD70’s or Dash 9’s or the new AC400 or whatever they are - the new Dash 9’s. I know - I will get beat up about the terminology - but I am in a hurry… and most generally - the SD70 is on the the head end and the Dash 9’s bring up the rear… or run behind the 70’s… just thought I would throw that in…

moo

11

When I use to go to Oreapolis I would alot of both Train types.

12

Up in the Crosby-Ironton Range in Minnesota on the Staples-Superior mainline, I have seen within the last year 3 c&g units with no dpu.

13

Hey Mookie, You know what Railfans call these one Locomotive on each end of the Coal Trains? You should know this real easy. (1+1).

14

We occassionally see a Dash9 in a lashup with one or more 70MAC pulling coal here in Aurora, they must be short of "regular " power due to traffic levels of coal etc.

15

This railfan calls it the best part of the train! [:D]