Western Railroad Discussion > BNSF 7000, SD40-2 whiteface 9-23-05

With a heads up from a buddy in Denver, I caught BNSF 7000 a white face
SD40-2 in Colorado Springs on the point of a south bound. Not to many
of the left on the roster in 2005.

Nathan Z.

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Yep I saw him heading out of Englewood earlier in the day.. And of course camera at home..

Crew stopped at Sedalia for lunch. Slow day on the Joint Line; at least the AM was.

I managed to catch up with a WB BNSF manifest train passing through Arvada on the Moffat Tunnel Sub. Not sure if it was bound for Stockton or Provo. The train was led by a Dash 9, BNSF 4429, but also featured a pair of SD-40-2s (one Pumpkin and one FURX). On the rear was a DPU Dash 9 BNSF 4671, but paired up with the DPU was another SD40, BNSF 6381. This unit was one of the BN SD40s used in EOT service as indicated by a placard on the long hood. The train stopped just east of Carr St. in Arvada, then got going (didn't have my scanner handy so I don't know why it was held up) up the 2% before stopping again at Leyden. The sound out of the 6381 was awesome, nice hearty sound out of the prime mover. The train also had a very rare piece of equipment, coal hopper C&S 527009. I've seen this car on this train a few times in the past. It is a BN-lettered hopper with C&S reporting marks. C&S equipment still operating on the BNSF is very very rare in 2005.

Also of note, trailing the BNSF 4429 West was UP 8266 West, an empty unit train with brand new CMO hoppers. (bottom discharge-type with blue rotary end paint and no UP shield)

When I was still working out in Clovis, one night we had a BN covered hopper with the reporting marks for the Ft. Worth & Denver.
Chris S.