Western Railroad Discussion > BNSF B-B Rebuilds Question

Perhaps someone would be so kind as to help me out of my confusion.

The BNSF has collected many four axle locomotives from other railroads and with many of their own units, upgraded them.

Do the nominal EMD model designations still hold? Does a current BNSF locomotive with a GP38** designation have a 16 cylinder non-turbocharged 645 engine? Do the GP39-3 locomotives, which may have started out as GP30s or GP35s, have 12 cylinder turbocharged 645s?

Thanks in advance for clearing this up for me.

Stan Praisewater

GP35s rebuilt to GP39s have 16 cylinders. GP39-2s bought new have 12 cyls.

GP39 designation relates to the horsepower setting, in this case 2300 HP. BNSF has GP39-3’s and variants (GP39M, GP39V, GP39E) that all have 16-645 power plants that are rated at 2300. These have been rebuilt from GP30’s, GP35’s, GP38’s, etc. only the factory built new GP39-2’s have the 12-645 motor on BNSF

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