http://www.locophotos.com/Read.php?ThreadID=4500 A post on locophotos.com claims BNSF will gradually retire their GP60Ms, though BNSF 130 has already been repainted into H3. The person believes it has something do due with the GP60M's being too rough to ride on due to the widebody cab. If true I wonder if this retirement pertains only to GP60M, and not other high hp 4 axle units such as conventional cab GP60s, B40-8s and the GP60M's GE counterpart, the B40-8W?
I have a hard time believing that they're getting rid of them NOW because of the ride problems. They've always had ride problems. For what it's worth, I've seen them dispatched on Transcon trains in the lead a couple times as recently is early last fall. Maybe the former ATSF engineers have rear ends made of softer stuff. I wouldn't be surprised if leases were coming up and they were simply not being renewed. Although again, they see pretty regular use.
What did you like about them? Didn't SF typically run shorter trains on the their hotshot intermodal back when these were bought?
I bet we see a lot of the older units head to the retiring lines as the newer stuff comes in. Although the way the new ones are breaking they may have to stay around a little longer.
Hate to see them go, but as new EPA clean air reg are beginning to start. I think there'll be alot of the older engines retired
Im a little surprised that BNSF wants to get rid of their GP60M's since they still running a handful of GP9's, SD9's and other rare locomotives. IF those units are removed from they roster I'm sure they won't get scrapped anytime soon. NRE and/or LTE will pick them up and put them back on the rails.
BNSF has been following the lead of UP and assigning their GP60s to rock trains- I managed to catch a trio on the point of a northbound empty at Sherman. Leading were two GP60Ms still in Warbonnet colors, with a GP60 Cub Scout in the middle. Trailing were 60 or so Ortner hoppers with TTIX reporting marks.
In the Northwest I know that most enginers do not like them as leaders because of there rough ride and slippery ride. Also the wide cab does not make them good on local jobs. Could they be rebuilt to a spartan cab? Kevin
Just a quick note, all gp60's have wide cabs. The cabs all go from the entire width of the loco. Some however have the Wide nose cab from Canada installed.
The GP60Ms have 2 piece front windows and do not have the Canadian Safety Cab which has 4 piece front windows.
Pet peeve of mine. So if you invent the lastest car design that gets 120 mpg and I split the front window into 2 pieces it is no longer your design! The Safety CAb is a CANADIAN invention.
