since when do 2 B23-7’s lead an intermodel train?
I have seen several “unusual” power consists on intermodals on the BNSF main through Aurora recently. The “usual” Dash9 and similar newer power consists are sometimes recently SD40-2 lashups with some rent-a-wreck units sprinkled in (even some old SD45 units). Bottom line, nothing would surprise me these days. When and where did you see the consist you describe?
Hmmmm… I’m guessing power shortage…
Reminds me of the time I saw a southbound ICG train consisting of two unit trains worth of empty hoppers. Those two Geeps were pulling for all they were worth. Apparently ICG was short of power on the north end, as usually the empties went south with the about same power they went north with.
With the power shortages that many railroads have, anything is possible. Locomotives slated for retirement are retained because they are needed and specific assignments often go out the window.
Speaking of power not being in the right place at the right time, I saw an ATSF train with seven units with a not very long train headed east through Chillicothe IL once. They must have been short of power in Chicago![:D][;)]
csx is running some of the intermodal trains with sd 40-2s and gp 38s.crews tell me they have better pickup after going through slow work zones.
stay safe
joe
In the early '90s, Santa Fe would send out GP7M’s between Chicago & Belen until they caught up with power more suited to what they were hauling. The GP7s would roar like the bad old days as long as you kept them at the lower elevations. Dispatchers would rob engines from yard jobs and would match HP to tonnage just to honor the contract(s).
Hey I saw that myself today. It was very surprising to see then again I have seen some BNSF Intermodals with GP28M’s.
Lately at work we’ve seen a lot of intermodal shipments on BNSF getting held for a day to several days because the train was waiting for power. This has been chronic in Chicago and LA, with some problems in other areas.
Part of the cause, as described by BNSF, is that they got SOOOOO far behind on coal deliveries, in part, due to the Powder River track maintenance disaster, that they’ve borrowed power that is normally assigned to the intermodal franchise (i.e. 4 axle units) to help out handling extra coal trainsets. Grain is also running heavy, so power is getting robbed for that purpose as well. That leaves intermodal with “anything with wheels and a motor” to pull the trains. BNSF service numbers reflect that situation right now too.
Below is a photo of the power on the Z-WSP-SBD-22 (hotshot Willow Springs ILL to San Bern, CA) http://www.carlofeher.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/train/p8.JPG
Also, here’s a new low-emissions unit that BNSFhas been using on the Q-CHI-LAC train (Chicago to LA containers). http://www.truk.com/art/sydney/20020628_auWest/275/bhill_trainBike.jpg
