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Burlington Northern U30C #5383 sits next to Santa Fe FP45 #92 in the diesel shop at Illinois Railway Museum. Both of these units are in operating condition, and both were in daily service until fairly recently (mid-1990s or so). Today, the BN and the Santa Fe have merged to form the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway- BNSF. The FP45s were originally used in the waning days of pre-Amtrak passenger service, when Santa Fe needed newer power to pull its premier trains like the Super Chief, that lasted right up until Amtrak. They were later used well into the '90s to pull fast, high-priority intermodal trains from California to Chicago.
Category Photography / Miscellaneous
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 800 x 600px
File Size 348 kB
Yah, they faired far better than the Milwaukee Road's 5 FP45's two of which burned up, and remaining three didn't even make it to the SOO merger.
Neat to see fairly fresh paint of the GE U30C. The unit literally went right from the railroad to the IRM, the unit arrived I 'think' out somewhere in Washington state where it was found the anti-slip had not functioned the whole trip and the wheels were too thin to continue in service without replacement. The loco was in the hands of the IRM less than 6 months later, still with worn out wheels and non-functioning anti wheel slip system.
That was back in 1995.
The way the U30C got the last leg to the IRM is an amusing but short story just in itself.
Neat to see fairly fresh paint of the GE U30C. The unit literally went right from the railroad to the IRM, the unit arrived I 'think' out somewhere in Washington state where it was found the anti-slip had not functioned the whole trip and the wheels were too thin to continue in service without replacement. The loco was in the hands of the IRM less than 6 months later, still with worn out wheels and non-functioning anti wheel slip system.
That was back in 1995.
The way the U30C got the last leg to the IRM is an amusing but short story just in itself.
From R&W issue #153
"Earlier that summer, the BN had donated U30C #5383 to IRM in appreciation for bringing the Zephyr out to Fort Worth and Galesburg. The engine was sitting in Eola yard waiting for paperwork to get it interchanged to the C&NW. With the Zephyr passing within yards of a unit that was technically "ours," why couldn't we just take it home with us? The answer from BN: Why don't you do just that. So, with the tall, boxy 5383 tucked in between 9911A and the articulated Zephyr consist, we headed for West Chicago looking kind of like a silver snake that had just swallowed a frog."
Later:
BN 5383 was actually part of two different "do it yourself" moves for IRM.
The first, as described above, got 5383 to IRM.
The second, used 5383 to move SP (T&NO)2-10-2 #975, and CB&Q 4-6-4 #3007 to IRM.
The BN was more than willing to move both steamers in a special train, but was in the midst of a motive power shortage. IRM "loaned" the 5383 back to the BN, who changed out all 6 "thin" wheelsts for new ones, and also replaced her batteries, then ran her in revenue service to Des Moines, IA (to pick up 3007), back to Galesburg, IL, (drop off 3007), down to Texas, interchanged with the UP then SP to Beaumont TX, (pick up 975), reverse route back to Galesburg (pick up 3007 again), and on home to Union.
The C&NW crew for the last leg was the crew for the regularly scheduled local. After parking their normal train in Union, they were "taxied" (Kallas Express) to West Chicago, ran 5383 up the Belvedere branch to Union (with 1 or 2 "hot loads" for the Chrysler plant at Belvedere), and then took their own train (plus the "hot" cars) back to Belvedere.
"Earlier that summer, the BN had donated U30C #5383 to IRM in appreciation for bringing the Zephyr out to Fort Worth and Galesburg. The engine was sitting in Eola yard waiting for paperwork to get it interchanged to the C&NW. With the Zephyr passing within yards of a unit that was technically "ours," why couldn't we just take it home with us? The answer from BN: Why don't you do just that. So, with the tall, boxy 5383 tucked in between 9911A and the articulated Zephyr consist, we headed for West Chicago looking kind of like a silver snake that had just swallowed a frog."
Later:
BN 5383 was actually part of two different "do it yourself" moves for IRM.
The first, as described above, got 5383 to IRM.
The second, used 5383 to move SP (T&NO)2-10-2 #975, and CB&Q 4-6-4 #3007 to IRM.
The BN was more than willing to move both steamers in a special train, but was in the midst of a motive power shortage. IRM "loaned" the 5383 back to the BN, who changed out all 6 "thin" wheelsts for new ones, and also replaced her batteries, then ran her in revenue service to Des Moines, IA (to pick up 3007), back to Galesburg, IL, (drop off 3007), down to Texas, interchanged with the UP then SP to Beaumont TX, (pick up 975), reverse route back to Galesburg (pick up 3007 again), and on home to Union.
The C&NW crew for the last leg was the crew for the regularly scheduled local. After parking their normal train in Union, they were "taxied" (Kallas Express) to West Chicago, ran 5383 up the Belvedere branch to Union (with 1 or 2 "hot loads" for the Chrysler plant at Belvedere), and then took their own train (plus the "hot" cars) back to Belvedere.
You are correct. #92 is not operational. She has her control stand all in one piece, which allows her to MU with other locomotives, but she cannot operate under her own power.
Fancy seeing a locomotive restored in Burlington Northern colors in a railroad Museum. How long until we start seeing CSX locomotives in the Gray Ghost scheme and YN2 scheme in Railroad Museums?
Fancy seeing a locomotive restored in Burlington Northern colors in a railroad Museum. How long until we start seeing CSX locomotives in the Gray Ghost scheme and YN2 scheme in Railroad Museums?
Yeah, SD9 1518, I saw it last year (and I came very close to riding behind it. I hope they give it a nice cosmetic restoration someday, and give her back her mars light while they're at it.
Be careful when identifying SP wide-cabs. I'm told that only one SP Dash-9 is left on the UP system with it's original colors. However, there are still several AC4400CWs (which look very similar to the Dash-9s)are still floating around the system with their original SP colors. Its more likely that you would've seen an AC4400CW, I've seen a few SP AC4400CWs (both with original numbers and UP numbers) come though my hometown. If you can identify the difference between a Dash-9 and an AC4400CW and you know for sure that what you saw was a Dash-9, then you've been insanely lucky.
But I got insanely lucky earlier this week by catching an ex-ATSF GP40X at the Galesburg Railroad yard. Not only did I see it, but I got to saw it MOVING! There are only ten GP40X's left on BNSF's roster. I also finally got a photo that I'd been wanting to get of one of the residential hump yard A-B-A sets of SD40-2s. This one set had all three locomotives still painted for Burlington Northern in Cascade Green. I've seen this hump yard set multiple times, but I've never been able to get a good shot of it.
Be careful when identifying SP wide-cabs. I'm told that only one SP Dash-9 is left on the UP system with it's original colors. However, there are still several AC4400CWs (which look very similar to the Dash-9s)are still floating around the system with their original SP colors. Its more likely that you would've seen an AC4400CW, I've seen a few SP AC4400CWs (both with original numbers and UP numbers) come though my hometown. If you can identify the difference between a Dash-9 and an AC4400CW and you know for sure that what you saw was a Dash-9, then you've been insanely lucky.
But I got insanely lucky earlier this week by catching an ex-ATSF GP40X at the Galesburg Railroad yard. Not only did I see it, but I got to saw it MOVING! There are only ten GP40X's left on BNSF's roster. I also finally got a photo that I'd been wanting to get of one of the residential hump yard A-B-A sets of SD40-2s. This one set had all three locomotives still painted for Burlington Northern in Cascade Green. I've seen this hump yard set multiple times, but I've never been able to get a good shot of it.
Yes, I suppose they do look a bit similar. Also have a few pictures of the Northwestern Dash-9s, both of them together, I think...I'll have to look back through my inventory, get my scanner hooked up and start putting them online.
I've been to Galesburg once, perhaps I'll go there again. I went on the train, which made it a bit of a pain to get to the yard, so my father and I wandered around, saw a wedding on the front lawn on Knox College and visited Carl Sandburg's house. He was born right near the yards, which is where his father worked, so I've always wondered why Amtrak named the train to Carbondale after him, and not the one Illinois Zephyr.
I've managed to get a few rare pictures, though no SD40-2B (or whatever you might call it). Instead, I can offer you an F40C http://www.furaffinity.net/full/6434157/ Amtrak's full dome http://www.furaffinity.net/view/7982329/ and their vintage F40PH http://www.furaffinity.net/full/8187382/
On the other end of the spectrum, there's a particular SD50 that I keep running into: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/7804534/
I've been to Galesburg once, perhaps I'll go there again. I went on the train, which made it a bit of a pain to get to the yard, so my father and I wandered around, saw a wedding on the front lawn on Knox College and visited Carl Sandburg's house. He was born right near the yards, which is where his father worked, so I've always wondered why Amtrak named the train to Carbondale after him, and not the one Illinois Zephyr.
I've managed to get a few rare pictures, though no SD40-2B (or whatever you might call it). Instead, I can offer you an F40C http://www.furaffinity.net/full/6434157/ Amtrak's full dome http://www.furaffinity.net/view/7982329/ and their vintage F40PH http://www.furaffinity.net/full/8187382/
On the other end of the spectrum, there's a particular SD50 that I keep running into: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/7804534/
If you come back to Galesburg, see if you can figure out where the Old Thirwell Road bridge is. It's a highway bridge that goes over the BNSF yard, and it's wide enough to where you can park your car on the shoulder of the bridge. Then you can sit there and watch traffic. If you do try this, though, be on the look out for a Red 2001 Chevy Lumina...because that's probably going to be my car!
You must be psychic, because I like SD50s and EMD Cowl units...it makes me wonder if this could be a friendship in the making.
You must be psychic, because I like SD50s and EMD Cowl units...it makes me wonder if this could be a friendship in the making.
I shall have to do that someday, perhaps even arrange a meeting. I like the SD50 because they're just about as old as I am, and they have such a clean design to them; comparatively, the SD70ACe looks lumpy and misshapen, a bunch of boxes stuck together with little regard for overall appearance, but what would you expect from Caterpillar? (I used to work for them, after all).
As far as cowl units, don't have very much experience with them...unless you count the F40PH and F40PH-2M, which I know quite well from Metra.
As far as cowl units, don't have very much experience with them...unless you count the F40PH and F40PH-2M, which I know quite well from Metra.
Just let me know when you plan on coming back to Galesburg.
I like the SD50s because they were 1up on their cousins, the SD40-2s. But EMD cowl units are my favorite diesel locomotives. I like them all, to be honest, I can't say that there's one that I like more than any other. I suppose I could say that my favorite is the F45/FP45, but again, I like them all. I also like GE U-boats, because...well...they're friggin' awesome! That classic chugging noise is just music to my ears. Too bad I didn't get to hear BN 5383 under a heavy load while I was at IRM last year. She was being dragged along by a CNW SD40-2, which was probably doing 40 MPH when it passed the station.
I like the SD50s because they were 1up on their cousins, the SD40-2s. But EMD cowl units are my favorite diesel locomotives. I like them all, to be honest, I can't say that there's one that I like more than any other. I suppose I could say that my favorite is the F45/FP45, but again, I like them all. I also like GE U-boats, because...well...they're friggin' awesome! That classic chugging noise is just music to my ears. Too bad I didn't get to hear BN 5383 under a heavy load while I was at IRM last year. She was being dragged along by a CNW SD40-2, which was probably doing 40 MPH when it passed the station.
I shall certainly let you know, although I don't have anything planned at the moment...you're certainly welcome to come to Aurora, for that matter. Heart of the Burlington and all that; I can even show you where the Burlington had its very start, still in use; I need to get that picture scanned and posted.
I also had the good fortune to grow up with Covered Wagons, when the Burlington Racetrack was the province of E9s. Recently had a nice time with GEs, took the train to Niles MI and back, zipping along at about 90.
I also had the good fortune to grow up with Covered Wagons, when the Burlington Racetrack was the province of E9s. Recently had a nice time with GEs, took the train to Niles MI and back, zipping along at about 90.
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