Full Version: BNSF GP 38 in the LA area
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The only photo of an BNSF patched ex ATSF GP38 in the LA area I could fine is the 2191 ( http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=194214&nseq=2 ).
That would be a great prototype for the Atlas GP38 Silver Line shell I got some time ago to sit on an Trainman G38 drives. All other photos show GP38 more east. Might be this was only a one time visit. I have question pending about the stay of the 2191 in the LA area in the West Coast RR forum.
Do we know some details about BNSF patched ATSF GP38 (not GP38-2!) in the LA area in big blue?
(most "similar" looking engines on photos end up as GP39-2)

Some decals, details and paint made it look somewhat closer to the prototype.
[Image: Img_0573.jpg?t=1298967264]
Looks good Reinhard. I don't have any information on the LAJ and those locos, but I can tell you I haven't seen any BNSF Santa Fe Bluebonnets in Houston in a couple of years now. I used to see them all the time. I miss them!
Reinhard, here is a link to Railroad Picture Archives BNSF locomotive section. I have the ATSF locomotive roster pics bookmarked, but not BNSF since I don't model BNSF. I don't know if you will find pictures of Gp38 in So Cal here, but you will find roster shots of most if not all BNSF Gp38 units.

here is a link to Railroad Picture archives
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.rrpicturearchives.net">http://www.rrpicturearchives.net</a><!-- m -->

I looked on the ATSF roster for Gp38 units and the Santa Fe had 20 Gp38s numbered between 3500 & 3560. The following units were rebuilt into Gp38u models- 3500 became ATSF Gp38u #2300 and then was renumbered to BNSF 2191. 3503 was rebuilt to Gp38u #2303 and then renumbered BNSF 2193. 3509 was rebuilt to Gp38u #2309 and then renumbered to BNSF #2199. 3532 was rebuilt to Gp38u #2331 and then renumbered to BNSF #2220 #3520 was rebuilt to ATSF Gp38u #2320, but does not show a record of going to BNSF. #3517 Gp38, no record of rebuild, renumbered to BNSF 2207. 3521 rebuilt to 2321 renumbered by BNSF #2211. 3554 rebuilt to 2354 renumbered to BNSF 2242. 3554 & 3521 are listed as being rebuilt, but no record of them being rebuilt to Gp38u. I don't know what the difference between a 38 and a 38u is.

It gets more complicated. There are 43 Gp38u's listed between ATSF #2303 & #2358. There are Gp30u's, Gp35u's listed as well as Gp7u's and Gp9u's. So I don't know where the extra Gp38u's originated as. They are not Gp38-2's because in every instance in both rosters the Gp38-2's are listed separately.

When you go to the BNSF roster, it is even more complicated because BNSF lists Gp38ac units from #2111-2138, then Gp38 from #2139-2248. #2190-#2248, are ex ATSF which raises another question. There are 58 units in that list with no numbers skipped, but I'm not sure where the extra 15 units came from unless the ATSF Gp38 units that were not mentioned as going anywhere actually went to BNSF as Gp38's without showing the renumbering. BNAF no longer classifies anything as a GP38u, they are all listed as GP38.

I'm not sure if this post is helpful or confusing!
Hello Russ,
I did use http://railpictures.net/ because I can search for model (GP38) railroad (BNSF) and state (California). The list is short and only the 2191 has a picture in the LA area in the list.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/default.aspx is also a great site for detail analysis. I did look into each BNSF GP38 from 2190 to 2248. Some (2206, 2218, 2219, 2224, 2228, 2231 and 2235) have a photo taken in LA or Commerce (some in BNSF colors, most in old ATSF colors with patch). I did not look into the others as they have the front light in the nose.

All this photos show the engine at some kind of larger yard or pulling a "real" train (no switching cut). None of the photo could be used to proof the engine is in the LA area to serve local industry. The http://www.westcoastrailforums.com/index.php forum has lots of photos taken while local industry or at least while local transfers are performed. None of that photos show a BNSF GP38 and my question about GP38 in LA is still open pending.

I assume BNSF did not use GP38 in the LA area for local tasks. The very few engines on photos taken in LA are engines that came in from the east and did return very soon without local jobs. Tough luck for me... Nope

However, that is wild guessing only. The photos do not proof the absence of an engine. It is pure luck if someone made a photo when the engine was at a specific location. That is very true if you are looking for older/none impressive engines doing local jobs. Most photos are taken from new high end engines in remarkable scenery or at convenient yard locations. That is one reason why I like the west coast forum so much. The photos are very unique showing mostly engines performing local jobs.

Thanks for your posting. It was very helpful and not confusing at all Thumbsup

ps. If someone would ask me what should be on his layout to justify virtually all ATSF/BNSF engines, my answer would be: The grain silos of Saginawa,TX. I did find thousands of photos with that prominent background Wink
UPDATE:
TC Smith responded in the south west coast forum some minute ago:

Generally if a unit is used on a switch job it stays for a week or two, often longer. One of the La Mirada jobs has had them on an infrequent basis but they do show up. Yours is good to go.

That is good news Big Grin
The BNSF uses the Gp7's, 9's & 10's , Gp20's, Gp28's, Gp30's, Gp35's, Gp38's, Gp38-2's, Gp39-2's & -3's, Gp40, Gp40x, Gp50's, & Gp60's & Gp60m's for switching all over the country. I think the only 4 axle power still used in regular mainline service are the dash8-40BW units. Now they are also doing major rebuilds on the Gp60b's to add cabs to the units for local switching. I don't know if they have so much local switching to do or if they are getting ready to sell off some of the older units. Of course they also have the TEBC6's (Don't know for sure what those are), Mk1200's (LNG powered units), Gevos, and also some old Sd9's for local switching. I suspect that any of those units could show up in So Cal at any time.
Russ Bellinis Wrote:The BNSF uses...
Do not forget the Gensets. While the most BNSF Genset are used in Texas, some (at least four) are in the LA area.
faraway Wrote:
Russ Bellinis Wrote:The BNSF uses...
Do not forget the Gensets. While the most BNSF Genset are used in Texas, some (at least four) are in the LA area.

Are the Gensets different than the Geevos? Since I don't model some of the really new stuff, I'm not "up" on it.
Russ, this http://www.greenrailnews.com/ is very good side for a quick overview of most of the green engines.

BNSF is using some six 3GS21B (1262 - 1267) and lately some 3GS21C from NRE in the LA area (Greenrailnews is somewhat outdated in that detail). The 3GS21B is also the prototype Altas Trainman is using for their Genset models ( http://www.atlastrainman.com/Images/HOLo...584_TQ.jpg ). And of course the much older MK1200G are owned by BNSF today.

However the far majority of BNSF Genset is located in Texas while UP concentrates their Genset in CA. In both states are public support programs in place easing the burden of investment for new engines very much.