As I am backdating my model railroad to before the BNSF merger, I wonder what would be the latest date I could run an FP45 (SDFP45) on the point of a train? I think all cowl-bodied locomotives were banned from this at some point. This would help me choose a timespan in which to set my railroad, to give me a wide choice of locomotives.
As of last check (Late 2000) BNSF last F45 6550 (I might have that number wrong) was lead capable. however, it has been in SUGO for 3 years now.
I may be reading my data sheet wrong, but I have them from 1973, but only being acquired by SF in 1984? John
84 start date on Santa Fe sounds right as that's when we got to hop on board for a quicky tour when they were "new." By '98 they were trailing only as no ditch lites. Compared to the Dash 8/9s & SD 75s they were the least preferred due fewer creature comforts by comparison.
I think there is some confusion between the FP45's and the ex-Amtrak SDP40's. Santa Fe classified the FP's as SDFP45's in later days, while the ex-AMTK units were classified SDF40-2's as far as I know. They did get the 18 SDP's in September 1984, but they had the FP45's from their build date in 1967. As for the question, I would think that you could use the FP45's on the point pretty much up until the merger date. Although they were supposedly banned from the point sometime in the early 1990's, I could swear I had seen them leading right up until the mid 1990's (although it was a rare occurrence). Below are a couple of links that have further information about the FP45's, which may help you to find some information about which ones stayed on the property longest, and which ones left early: FP45 Data Page What the heck is an SDFP45? Hope this is helpful...
You are right, Kevin. I found a photo of and SDFP45 on the point in 1996, which is about the time of the merger, I think. I love those locomotives, and may get a JnJ shell to make one. Not sure about the SDF45's though, have not found any late photos of those on the point, or indeed, the SDF40-2's.
