Western Railroad Discussion > More Mac's about to get whacked

Another batch of BNSF SD70MAC's are in line for the torch. Taken Sunday 05-03-2026 at Midlothian TX, BNSF Venus sub at Gardau.
 

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Sad? But this is the way it all works...
I'm 80 and looking at bladder cancer. Shucks, we ain't here forever. These are just chunks of iron and steel. I guess you will get over it?
Gonut

I look at all the dizmals stored and wonder how the railroads make money. If it ain't turnin, it ain't earnin.

Are these owned by the railroad or a leasing company?

Tom

Railfan4Christ Wrote:
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> Are these owned by the railroad or a leasing
> company?

They were owned by BNSF and sold to a recycling company.

Not even a bumper post at the end of the track.  That was sharp looking power.  Thanks for the excellent photos.

Congradulations on reaching 80. That in itself is quite an accomplishment. I HOPE you are able to win the battle. My dad battled bladder cancer for 17 years, however in 2020 he lost the battle to brain cancer. 

Gonut1 Wrote:
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> Sad? But this is the way it all works...
> I'm 80 and looking at bladder cancer. Shucks, we
> ain't here forever. These are just chunks of iron
> and steel. I guess you will get over it?
> Gonut

Gonut1 Wrote:
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> Sad? But this is the way it all works...
> I'm 80 and looking at bladder cancer. Shucks, we
> ain't here forever. These are just chunks of iron
> and steel. I guess you will get over it?
> Gonut

You're dead right. All the best.

I remember buying my first copy of Trains magazine back in about 1994/5.... the cover photo was of a brand new 70MAC and inside were photos of the new DASH-9s and AC4400s being delivered to CNW... here we are 30 years later!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/04/26 12:53 by exhaustED.

KB5WK Wrote:
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> Another batch of BNSF SD70MAC's are in line for
> the torch. Taken Sunday 05-03-2026 at Midlothian
> TX, BNSF Venus sub at Gardau.
>  


Not too hard to see what parts are "valuable" to the scrapper. Looks like cabs, fuel tanks, engines and traction motors are on the save list.

God bless you.
TAH

Life has gone full circle for BNSF 9629. I managed to catch it along with BNSF 9628 when they were on their first trip, fresh out of the plant at EMD. Here they are heading west at Hinsdale, IL on June 20, 1995.

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Thanks for keeping us posted on the latest scrapping activities. Also, pretty cool getting that "first run" shot in contrast to sitting, waiting for the torch.

Anyone know just how many SD70MACs BNSF still has on the roster at this point?

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com

I didn't like the Grinstein Green & Cream scheme at first but it really grew on me and now I'm sad about them going away.

ColoradoRailfan Wrote:
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> Anyone know just how many SD70MACs BNSF still has
> on the roster at this point?

As of May 10, 2026
786 SD70MACs built with 21 converted to SD70MACe

So, out of 765 SD70MACs:
In service: 11
Laid Up For Sale: 133
Laid up other reasons: 114
Total: 258

SD70MACes:
In service: 11
Laid Up Bad Order: 10

MP555 Wrote:
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> So, out of 765 SD70MACs:
> In service: 11

Can you share the list of the 11 in service SD70MACs?

I caught BNSF 9406 at Culver, OR back on March 30, 2026 and was surprised to see it. Figured it was the oldest SD70MAC still out there.

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ble692 Wrote:
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> Can you share the list of the 11 in service
> SD70MACs?

​8908, 8923, 9574, 9621, 9625, 9858, 9675, 9691, 9712, 9808 and 9948

> I caught BNSF 9406 at Culver, OR back on March 30,
> 2026 and was surprised to see it. Figured it was
> the oldest SD70MAC still out there.

It was!  It was put into Laid Up PEnding status on May 3 after being reactivated on January 31, 2026.
 

MP555 Wrote:
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> It was!  It was put into Laid Up PEnding status
> on May 3 after being reactivated on January 31,
> 2026.

Thanks! They got the 92 days out of it from the periodic inspection and not a day more.

Wonder what the next 30 years will bring?? I'll never see it.