Western Railroad Discussion > BNSF GP23 ECO's 2233 and 2197

I photographed these two GP23 ECO's at Auburn, WA last Sunday 6-2-19 but can't find any info on them.  Anyone have the heritages of the 2233 and 2197?

Thanks,
Brian Ambrose
Renton, WA

---

Didn’t know they got some of those. Thanks for posting!

BrianA Wrote:
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> I photographed these two GP23 ECO's at Auburn, WA
> last Sunday 6-2-19 but can't find any info on
> them.  Anyone have the heritages of the 2233 and
> 2197?
>
> Thanks,
> Brian Ambrose
> Renton, WA

Very interesting. Neat shot and catch.

PQM

Are they built from GP35's or what?

SantaFeRuss

There was a prior 2233 in blue/yellow. Not sure but it looked like a GP38. Maybe rebuilt with same number?

up833 Wrote:
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> There was a prior 2233 in blue/yellow. Not sure
> but it looked like a GP38. Maybe rebuilt with same
> number?

Yes, both same numbers as when they were GP38s.  Not sure if the locals are shaking them down, or what (rebuilt at Progress Rail, Tacoma)....they are to be used in Cicero, IL as they were paid for through an IDOT grant.

They look to be the same as CP's units. Those were built from GP9 cores, but I think the trucks are the largest item reused, as they appear to be new from the frame up.

Posted from Android

Darren Boes
Lethbridge, AB
Southern Alberta Railfan

sarailfan Wrote:
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> They look to be the same as CP's units. Those were
> built from GP9 cores, but I think the trucks are
> the largest item reused, as they appear to be new
> from the frame up.
>
The only portions that appears to be new is the radiator and dynamic brake section, and I would question the latter.
These appear to be upgraded GP38's.  The higher number would be ex-Frisco while the lower one would be ex-BN,
same numbers if earlier posts are accuarate.  

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA

ntharalson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> sarailfan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > They look to be the same as CP's units. Those
> were
> > built from GP9 cores, but I think the trucks
> are
> > the largest item reused, as they appear to be
> new
> > from the frame up.
> >
> The only portions that appears to be new is the
> radiator and dynamic brake section, and I would
> question the latter.
> These appear to be upgraded GP38's.  The higher
> number would be ex-Frisco while the lower one
> would be ex-BN,
> same numbers if earlier posts are accuarate.  
>
> Nick Tharalson,
> Marion, IA

CP went the deluxe high cost route. BNSF only changed what needed to be changed and probably saved a bunch of money too.

Are thay painted in H-1 colors?
...Swede,.........,,Albony,OR......

sarailfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> They look to be the same as CP's units. Those were
> built from GP9 cores, but I think the trucks are
> the largest item reused, as they appear to be new
> from the frame up.
>
> Posted from Android

Incorrect, GP20C-ECO's are a new locomotive built using material from GP9 trade ins, trucks and cooling fans. 

Look back into EMD history you will see many orders using core material from trade in's. Even Alco trucks on some early EMD builds.

ntharalson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> sarailfan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > They look to be the same as CP's units. Those
> were
> > built from GP9 cores, but I think the trucks
> are
> > the largest item reused, as they appear to be
> new
> > from the frame up.
> >
> The only portions that appears to be new is the
> radiator and dynamic brake section, and I would
> question the latter.
> These appear to be upgraded GP38's.  The higher
> number would be ex-Frisco while the lower one
> would be ex-BN,
> same numbers if earlier posts are accuarate.  
>
> Nick Tharalson,
> Marion, IA

Look closely you will notice the long hood and DB hatch are identical to GP20C-ECO.

up833 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There was a prior 2233 in blue/yellow. Not sure
> but it looked like a GP38. Maybe rebuilt with same
> number?

Bingo.

Entropy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ntharalson Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > sarailfan Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > They look to be the same as CP's units. Those
> > were
> > > built from GP9 cores, but I think the trucks
> > are
> > > the largest item reused, as they appear to be
> > new
> > > from the frame up.
> > >
> > The only portions that appears to be new is the
> > radiator and dynamic brake section, and I would
> > question the latter.
> > These appear to be upgraded GP38's.  The
> higher
> > number would be ex-Frisco while the lower one
> > would be ex-BN,
> > same numbers if earlier posts are
> accuarate.  
> >
> > Nick Tharalson,
> > Marion, IA
>
> Look closely you will notice the long hood and DB
> hatch are identical to GP20C-ECO.

They look like new short noses as well. Those nosed are longer that the previous 81" noses.

Posted from Android

NYSWSD70M Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Entropy Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > ntharalson Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > sarailfan Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > > > They look to be the same as CP's units.
> Those
> > > were
> > > > built from GP9 cores, but I think the
> trucks
> > > are
> > > > the largest item reused, as they appear to
> be
> > > new
> > > > from the frame up.
> > > >
> > > The only portions that appears to be new is
> the
> > > radiator and dynamic brake section, and I
> would
> > > question the latter.
> > > These appear to be upgraded GP38's.  The
> > higher
> > > number would be ex-Frisco while the lower one
> > > would be ex-BN,
> > > same numbers if earlier posts are
> > accuarate.  
> > >
> > > Nick Tharalson,
> > > Marion, IA
> >
> > Look closely you will notice the long hood and
> DB
> > hatch are identical to GP20C-ECO.
>
> They look like new short noses as well. Those
> nosed are longer that the previous 81" noses.
>
> Posted from Android

Good catch, keep digging. 

Looks like from the traction motor forward is all the same, going back from there is all new. At least thats what I am seeing. 

Michael Fair
Royal Oak, MI

Interesting! Thanks for posting this.

- Jeff Carlson

Posted from iPhone

bath_wildcat Wrote:
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> Looks like from the traction motor forward is all
> the same, going back from there is all new. At
> least thats what I am seeing. 

Has an anticlimber on the #1 end

Posted from iPhone

Look here, parts of long hood and nose removed on the old 2233:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locopicture.aspx?id=23763

GN_X838 Wrote:
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> Are thay painted in H-1 colors?

BNSF 2197 and 2233 are in the H4 paint scheme.