Western Railroad Discussion > Got the BUG

A heads up from a friend once again produces results. I got word that the H-MEMTUL9-11 with leader BNSF 9126, would have BUGX 999 the ex NS Battery Green goat headed to Anaheim, CA behind the power. The estimate of 1400 was very close and even with 2 maintainers working in the area it showed up here at 1407. The first view of the right side was made in Catoosa with an overcast, by the time it reached Tiger the sun came out and lit the left side as it slid by headed for Tulsa. The 999 is an Altoona Works BP4, a 1,500 hp B-B battery-electric locomotive rebuilt by the Altoona Works of the Norfolk Southern Railway in 2007 by replacing the diesel prime mover of an EMD GP38 (Norfolk Southern #2911, formerly Conrail #7732) with 1,080 12-volt lead-acid batteries and associated control equipment. The converted locomotive was redesignated Norfolk Southern #999. It has been sold to a new owner and renumbered BUGX 999.

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The sunlit BUG 999.

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wow

Wow, that is a Lot of batteries.  Thanks for the pictures, wonder if it's going to work for UP in Anaheim, CA?

Rich


MP4093 Wrote:
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The 999 is an Altoona Works BP4, a 1,500 hp B-B
> battery-electric locomotive rebuilt by the Altoona
> Works of the Norfolk Southern Railway in 2007 by
> replacing the diesel prime mover of an EMD GP38
> (Norfolk Southern #2911, formerly Conrail #7732)
> with 1,080 12-volt lead-acid batteries and
> associated control equipment.

Ugly and hopefully going to be recycled.
I guess if it worked well the NS would have kept it, right?

TJY

The Hunch Back of Notre Dame , on it's way to Anaheim, Home of The Magic Kindom

Bet it's going to the scrap yard next to the Olive Sub.

That Bug unit reminds me of that Republic Locomotive Works Unit. UP 20.
From some years back, that burned up while on a local from GEMCO

Jerry Martin
Los Angeles, CA
Central Coast Railroad Festival

Cool! I’ve been wondering what the status of the 999 was since it was sold to Dieselmotive Co. (BUGX is their reporting marks). For those out there not in the know, Dieselmotive is a locomotive repair and maintenance company out of Central California. They also dable in leasing here and there. I suspect the 999s final destination after Anaheim may be Turlock or Stockton, CA. since that’s where most of the company’s equipment is typically stored. Thanks for the update.

Ryan Barber
Stockton, CA



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/13/20 18:49 by TS735.

How is the air compressor powered?

4451Puff Wrote:
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> How is the air compressor powered?
By an electric motor, the same as most new locomotives.

miralomarail Wrote:
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> The Hunch Back of Notre Dame , on it's way to
> Anaheim, Home of The Magic Love it!

Posted from iPhone

TS735 Wrote:
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> Cool! I’ve been wondering what the status of the
> 999 was since it was sold to Dieselmotive Co.
> (BUGX is their reporting marks).

It apparently does not belong to Dieselmotive.  It's just using the BUGX reporting mark for transport.

MP555 wrote
> It apparently does not belong to
> Dieselmotive.  It's just using the BUGX
> reporting mark for transport.

Well that’s a curious development. I know it’s a roundly criticized locomotive but I still suspect it may find a more useful life out here in California. 

Ryan Barber
Stockton, CA

Thats a lot of lead and acid. Not so green.

> It apparently does not belong to
> Dieselmotive.  It's just using the BUGX
> reporting mark for transport.

Exactly.  So often, these smaller rebuilders/brokers simply serve as a 3rd party between seller and buyer.