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I would ask Warren Buffet, but he's not available, so I'll ask here... Quote- BNSF used to not often mix AC/DC locos, but it looks as if from videos that they seem to mix freely except on coal trains which are all AC. Or am I wrong?No, you've got it right.I've never worked a power planner job, but about 8 years ago I did work with them extensively while I built a computer model that would do predictive workflow stuff (basically forecast power availability into the future based on in/out-bound trains). So I had to get very familiar with the logic they use to determine consist make-up. Our loco assignment system, which tracks and readily displays every single variable that a power planner might need to know to make up a consist, actually doesn't even keep track of whether a unit is AC or DC. It really isn't particularly important. What it does do, however, is display if a unit is assigned to a particular service or not. And, for a long time, if it was an AC unit, it was assigned to Coal service -- which meant you'd be better off not assigning that power to something else unless it was REALLY important (like a UPS Z9 during Xmas). However, with the proliferation of AC power in our purchases over the last 10 years (right now we've got about 2000 AC units, about 50% of the main road fleet) there's more than enough AC power to go around to other areas. So they get mixed and matched fairly often. Except, as you noted, on Coal which is still the domain of AC. We did move our AC4400 fleet, which I used to maintain out of Lincoln for Coal service, up to Havre so that our growing Export Grain business would have more AC power availability for loaded drags over the pass. The new C4s are doing alright in most areas, but not quite cut out to hauling (or stopping) that much tonnage over the Rockies.Quote- BNSF solid grain trains tend (today) to be about 50% 5161 (or close standin) circle/cross, about 25% 5161 (swoosh) and about 25% leased cars (AOK, etc...) - 4750's seem to be less common in unit trains?I can't really get into this too much because of ongoing lawsuits regarding how BNSF calculates rates and equpment availability to certain customers and I don't want to say something I shouldn't have on the extraordinarily rare chance someone sees it, but, yes, you're going to almost exclusively see 5161's in unit service, while 4750's are relegated to shuttle or less-than-full train service or the rare customer that requires sub-5000cuft cars due to their loading equipment.Quote- On intermodal trains BNSF does not carry EMP containers (UP partnership) and you would not see APL international containers. Pacer domestic containers are carried on BNSF. Right or wrong?I won't claim to be terribly versed in our Intermodal business, but I know you're right on EMP, APL has a contract with UP (and has for like 30 years), but our Marketing group doesn't list Pacer as one it's larger customers nor access to its containers. It does list Pacer as a major customer of UP along with access to its containers (and EMP, UMAX and Hub Group), and Pacer as a major customer of CSX.
- BNSF used to not often mix AC/DC locos, but it looks as if from videos that they seem to mix freely except on coal trains which are all AC. Or am I wrong?
- BNSF solid grain trains tend (today) to be about 50% 5161 (or close standin) circle/cross, about 25% 5161 (swoosh) and about 25% leased cars (AOK, etc...) - 4750's seem to be less common in unit trains?
- On intermodal trains BNSF does not carry EMP containers (UP partnership) and you would not see APL international containers. Pacer domestic containers are carried on BNSF. Right or wrong?
* Great info Mark! Thanks for posting. That certainly matches my experience viewing Tehachapi traffic: with little or no BNSF coal traffic, the locos are Dash-9's, ES44DC's and ES44C4's. 6-axle AC, or anything EMD, is very rare.
* Until someone offers 53' cans in JB Hunt and/or Schneider, (or anything in UPS or any 53' trailer) we can forget about modeling BNSF intermodal even remotely faithfully. With Deluxe on the sidelines, this is the single biggest gap in modern N scale. I'm surprised Kato hasn't jumped on the former. (We can kind of squeak by with Kato containers and Microscale decals, but that's slow going given the volume needed, and only partially correct.)
I'm really sort of back to an old idea here, the concept of BN rebuilding the Snoqualmie Pass route - and modeling it in modern times....I'lll post some more info soon, but almost everything is fitting into place in the idea. Basically the layout looks at the area from around North Bend to the West Portal of the tunnel (which is the most scenic section - tunnels, showsheds, tall pines. I also assume the Snoqualmie sawmill is still in operation.Will post more soon!- Lou
On intermodal trains BNSF does not carry EMP containers (UP partnership) and you would not see APL international containers. Pacer domestic containers are carried on BNSF. Right or wrong?
The blank white UPS containers are relative newcomers, as well as some others that are less common.
I believe the US military licensed a family of Austrian trucks which are built in Texas (?) -
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Topic: Some BNSF Questions.... (Read 1995 times)
