Western Railroad Discussion > What's a BNSF GP39-2?

Here's an ex-CB&Q GP30 at Vancouver, WA today.  The BNSF had had hundreds of old four axle locomotive carcasses rebuilt into useful yard and local power.  "GP39-2" is stenciled on the side.  What does that mean?  Did they put a 12 cylinder turbo-charged engine in with 645 power assemblies?  How does it differ from a GP38-2 rebuilt from an old unit?

Stan Praisewater

---

Hi Stan & yes on the 12 cylinder turbo-charged engine. Some also have 2 fans after being rebuilt instead of 3 as delivered. Some of the BN/BNSF GP39-2 where rebuilt from GP30 High nose units. They have a standard cab with GP30 roof line
A GP38-2 has a 16 cylinder without a turbo. 
Neat units & I hope Scaletrains offers these in HO
Hope this helps

Tim 
Hanesworth

BNSF 2809 was built for Union Pacific as their 830. 2809 should have a 16-cylinder prime mover from its GP30 days. See below for more information on the various BN GP39 rebuild series.

First, here's a snippet from a previous TO post regarding units BN had rebuilt from GP30's and GP35's; I suppose the GP39M, GP39E and GP39V names have been swept aside by current BNSF practice and replaced with the all-encompassing GP39-2:

"There are GP39M's , GP39E's and GP39V's.

The GP39M's were rebuilt at MK in Boise ID from various GP30 and GP35 units. The GP39E's were rebuilt at La Grange IL by EMD from various GP30 and GP35 units. The GP39V's were rebuilt at VMV's Paducah shops from Ex-CSX and P&L GP35's.

The GP39M's and GP39E's were rebuilt from GP30's and GP35's of various sources. BN,UP,SP,NS,and CSX hulks were used to build these units with the NS GP30 units getting new spartan cabs to replace theirs with the hi-nose. . . .

All three models of units are rated at 2300 horsepower but still contain their 16 cylinder engines upgraded to 645 specs with -2 electrical systems."

Here's the thread from 19 years ago where that post appeared: https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,195457

Then there's this from Evan Werkema:

"The rebuilt GP30's that still have their cabs and the middle 36" fan are the Morrison-Knudsen rebuilt "GP39M's," BNSF 2800-2834. These were done for BN before the merger.

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,4245078
https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,4010629,4011360#4011360
https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,3993819
https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,3942644

The EMD-rebuilt "GP39E's," also done for BN before the merger, all lost their 36" fans, and most of the ones that came from GP30's started life as NS high-hoods and were chopnosed and spartan-cabbed when rebuilt. BNSF 2740-2748 from this group were low-nosers built for CB&Q and still have their GP30 cabs:

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,1636070
https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,3868460
https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,2918137,2918164#2918164
https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,3660957,3661024#3661024

Mr. Werkema's post came from this thread: https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,4986740

Matthew



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/04/22 17:40 by Roadmaster.

BN and BNsF calls them GP39's because of the HP but they do have a 16cly engine block still.

If I understand you correctly all of the GP39M, V or Es do NOT have turbos? 
Tim
Hanesworth 


Roadmaster Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> BNSF 2809 was built for Union Pacific as their
> 830. 2809 should have a 16-cylinder prime mover
> from its GP30 days. See below for more
> information on the various BN GP39 rebuild
> series.
>
> First, here's a snippet from a previous TO post
> regarding units BN had rebuilt from GP30's and
> GP35's; I suppose the GP39M, GP39E and GP39V names
> have been swept aside by current BNSF practice and
> replaced with the all-encompassing GP39-2:
>
> "There are GP39M's , GP39E's and GP39V's.
>
> The GP39M's were rebuilt at MK in Boise ID from
> various GP30 and GP35 units. The GP39E's were
> rebuilt at La Grange IL by EMD from various GP30
> and GP35 units. The GP39V's were rebuilt at VMV's
> Paducah shops from Ex-CSX and P&L GP35's.
>
> The GP39M's and GP39E's were rebuilt from GP30's
> and GP35's of various sources. BN,UP,SP,NS,and CSX
> hulks were used to build these units with the NS
> GP30 units getting new spartan cabs to replace
> theirs with the hi-nose. . . .
>
> All three models of units are rated at 2300
> horsepower but still contain their 16 cylinder
> engines upgraded to 645 specs with -2 electrical
> systems."
>
> Here's the thread from 19 years ago where that
> post appeared:
> https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,
> 195457
>
> Then there's this from Evan Werkema:
>
> "The rebuilt GP30's that still have their cabs and
> the middle 36" fan are the Morrison-Knudsen
> rebuilt "GP39M's," BNSF 2800-2834. These were
> done for BN before the merger.
>
> https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11
> ,4245078
> https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,
> 4010629,4011360#4011360
> https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,
> 3993819
> https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,
> 3942644
>
> The EMD-rebuilt "GP39E's," also done for BN before
> the merger, all lost their 36" fans, and most of
> the ones that came from GP30's started life as NS
> high-hoods and were chopnosed and spartan-cabbed
> when rebuilt. BNSF 2740-2748 from this group were
> low-nosers built for CB&Q and still have their
> GP30 cabs:
>
> https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,
> 1636070
> https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,
> 3868460
> https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,
> 2918137,2918164#2918164
> https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,
> 3660957,3661024#3661024
>
> Mr. Werkema's post came from this thread:
> https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,
> 4986740
>
> Matthew

sp8234 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If I understand you correctly all of the GP39M, V
> or Es do NOT have turbos? 
> Tim
> Hanesworth 

They do have turbochargers. The suffix identifies the rebuilder. The engine is 16V-645D this indicates that the locomotive retains the old "D" crankcase from the original GP30 or GP35 with 645 powerpacks. The 2300hp. rating is to control maintenance expenses.

A 38 does not have a turbo and is a 16 cyl.

In true EMD fashion though the 39 series was a turbocharged 12 cylinder prime mover. BNSF has just decided
that since the 38s were non-turbo that would remain and since the 39s had turbos so be it. Counting cylinders 
is not allowed.

Out 

I am not being partial but I think the GP39M,V and E program was pretty neat. Especially with the GP30 donors. They were able to keep the classic lines, angled center windshields and the 2819 we see here still has poling pockets. Anyone remember Pacific Railnews? I have the issue somewhere from the late 80's when they covered this rebuild program while it was in full swing. If I remember correctly they refurbished a lot of original parts as well. Some of the Q GP30's had trucks from trade in FT's. They refurbished them as well and may have ended up on other "39"s in the program. As another side note they ended up with cores from so many other railroads because the BN didn't have enough. All in all they are old iron in my opinion. Also I admired what the ATSF did to repurpose their GP30 fleet in the mid 80's. It was however unfortunate they "flattened" the angled center windshields.