Sensible BNSF Northern Lines Roster

[GaryHinshaw]

Interesting thread, and what a valuable resource it is to have an insider on the team!  Mark, if you have the wherewithal, I'd love to see the numbers for the Mojave Sub, my prediction is something closer to this:

C44-9W -- 45%
ES44DC -- 34%
ES44C4 -- 18%
ES44AC -- 1%
AC4400 -- 0%
SD40-2 -- 1%
SD70ACe -- 1%
SD70MAC -- 0%

RE the GEVO foob: I am presently leaning towards using the Kato AC model as a DC foob for now.  (Not meant as an FVM bash.)  The differences between AC and DC units are comparable to the differences between phases.  For example, the Kato model is an early-phase AC:

http://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=113846

Compare this to an early-phase DC:

http://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=69589

The only real differences are 1) the dynamic brake vent placement and 2) the panel cover details behind the cab.  Now compare this to a later-phase DC:

http://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=108571

The front door is now on the left side, the rear vent placement is different, (and some of the roof grill details are different).  If you're happy with 95% correct, you'll be fine, just renumber them.

-gfh

P.S. I have about half a dozen Dash-9's waiting to be renumbered (and detailed).

[Leggy]

What about the center axle raising mechanism on the ES44C4s then Gary? FVM did them too....

[ljudice]

One additional resource I used - are the Railroadradio.net feeds.  I've listened while working for about 3 weeks to the Stampede Pass feed - what a treasure trove of information about operations - although Stampede seems to be Eastbound empties mostly.  You often get entire loco consists when the dispatcher asks for fuel readings.

And you get the drama of train vs. elk which seems to happen a lot.

[GaryHinshaw]

What about the center axle raising mechanism on the ES44C4s then Gary? FVM did them too....

I wasn't specifically commenting on the C4's.  Too bad FVM used a super neon orange, and started with a DC shell, when an AC shell would have been closer.  (And they didn't swap the cab door, or the rear vents...)   But I only bash companies for things they could have gotten correct for free: paint and the AC shell in this case.      And kudos to them for tooling new trucks!

-gfh

Lou, I listen that stream by default when I'm working on the layout.  UP Tehachapi dispatcher in my case.  Lots of trains in emergency, broken rails, etc...  Very entertaining! 

[Hyperion]

Interesting thread, and what a valuable resource it is to have an insider on the team!  Mark, if you have the wherewithal, I'd love to see the numbers for the Mojave Sub

Not a problem at all.

I did yours with a little more foresight in mind of what I was trying to get to.  So instead of taking a random sample off the online dispatch system, I just dug around the data warehouse and pulled every BNSF locomotive that passed through Mojave in the past 30 days.  Was quicker and gave much better data -- I can get this down all the way to a couple brand spanking new PR30C that was 0.1% of the locos that came through.

ES44DC == 33%
C44-9W == 32%
ES44C4 == 21%
SD40-2 == 1%
AC4400 == 1%
GP60M == 1%

Now that's a hell of a curve.  I took it to 6 simply because I love the GP60 so much and wanted it to show up.

Now your commodity options down south aren't as plentiful as up north.  Anything by Merchandise and Intermodal is few and far between, so I just grouped it into Merch, Intermodal, and Everything Else.  If you want the trend of any particular train type (B, Z, etc) let me know, I've already got the data.

Intermodal -- 45% ES44DC, 31% ES44C4, and 23% C44-9W
Merchandise -- 48% C44-9W, 28% ES44DC, and 18% ES44C4
Everything Else -- 34% ES44DC, 27% C44-9W, 19% ES44C4

[GaryHinshaw]

Excellent!  Thank you!  My prediction was almost bang on for the merchandise trains, but the GEVO's are really taking over the Z trains (not surprisingly).  This confirms that I definitely need at least another half-dozen DC's and/or C4's on the fleet.  I'm delighted to see the SD40-2 and GP60M on that list.  While I'm striving to model 'summer of this year', I'm willing to bend time for a handful of these locos.

Does your data count run-through power?  Is it my imagination, or is this phenomenon on the decline recently?

Cheers,
Gary

[Leggy]

I never knew they flummoxed the ES44C4 by using DC shells, that's just inexcusable! if the paint wasn't a problem you could just buy ES44ACs and ES44C4s and swap the shells to get ES44DCs and proper ES44C4s. After all they've gotten right in the past....

[Hyperion]

Does your data count run-through power?  Is it my imagination, or is this phenomenon on the decline recently?

Just to make sure we're talking the same lingo -- are you speaking of foreign power on BNSF trains?

I actually did pull those too, but I culled them from my results.

None were enough to enter the top list, nor enough to affect the percentages at all, but more than a fair bit of UP items were on the list.  SD70Ms were on the list far more than anything else (75 of them went through Mojave in the past month), as did some oddball C4460s and about everything else under the sun (a total of 39 different models, most just once or twice), and even a handful of KCS units made it all the way out there.

In all, 98% of the units were BNSF.  UP was a bit over 1%, CSXT was 0.4%, NS/KCS/PRLX were 0.2%.

I honestly couldn't speak to the trend of foreign power running through on our trains.  It's not something I've ever really considered before to be honest.  Given some added time, I could pull the same dataset for a couple different time periods, and we could see the data and compare actual results.  If I get a chance, I'll pull it either later tonight or in the morning and we'll see.

[GaryHinshaw]

I never knew they flummoxed the ES44C4 by using DC shells, that's just inexcusable! if the paint wasn't a problem you could just buy ES44ACs and ES44C4s and swap the shells to get ES44DCs and proper ES44C4s. After all they've gotten right in the past....

Having just bashed FVM, I'll now offer the following defense of their C4 shell. Here's is a shot of the first prototype C4.  As noted, it has the AC-style panel detail behind the cab; but it also has the wider dynamic brake vent spacing, a la the DC shell.  One could argue that the vents are a more prominent spotting feature, and that Matt made the right call here.  Mainly, I just wish the color weren't so neon, but maybe I have a chance of toning that down with a fade.  If so, I'll get some more FVM C4's.

[Leggy]

It's not so much that the DB is spaced apart as it is an option, that's the lower capacity DB package whilst locos like CSX's ES44AHs, NS' ES44ACs, etc have the 3 grill higher capacity package. (Sorry I'm a bit of a detail nerd...). For me the inverter cabinet and DB being wrong would be enough to put me off, I can't really go with one or the other...probably why I freelance 

[GaryHinshaw]

Mark, that's correct, I was referring to foreign power on BNSF trains.  Interesting that it was 98% BNSF.  I'm guessing that 5 years ago the percentage of NS power on these trains was as high as 5-10%.  I'd love to see the stats, if it's easy.

I find it oddly comforting to see that your power list is dominated by 3 models.  I'm sure most folks here would cry "BORING!"  For me, modeling is about the geography of the line I'm modeling and the type of operations it supports (a torturous, single-track route with lots of heavy trains).  The satisfaction I get from modeling comes from trying to recreate that whole package so that anyone remotely familiar with the prototype would recognize it instantly. Having only 3 loco models to worry about on the BNSF side makes that a bit easier...

Leggy, thanks for the nomenclature clarification.  I do pay attention to the details, but I am quite willing to accept something that is "95%" correct, whatever that means.  We all have our own comfort levels though.  One thing is for sure: the further I get towards running trains on a "finished" layout, the less I notice vent placements.  And it's not that I don't know about (most of) the inaccuracies, it's just that they recede from prominence on the big stage.

[ljudice]

One thought I had on the fooobed ES44DC was to use MS orange patch decal instead of removing the numbers completely - then if Kato does do the ES44DC it could be permanently turned into an ES44AC of a different number.

[Robbman]

No doubt they and others will be interested in the 'Independent Axle Control' update of the SD70ACe.

I've heard that too... and it's about time, though the P4 version is still one inverter per truck...

[Leggy]

Well...it actually isn't, EMD has developed the 1 inverter per axle system partly for the P-4 ACes.

[ljudice]

Couple more questions the panel....

How late were the Oakways roaming around the system?   

I am guessing the B40's were set aside around 2008/9 or later?

The LMX's were gone much earlier, like 2002-2005 or did any hang around?

Thanks!