Model Railroading > BN B30-7A B-Units...calling all manufacturers...

The Vice President of Power here has earmarked unrestricted funds for the purchase of at least 4 of these HO units, and at least 4 of these units in N-scale as well (you just can't have too many BN units in this 50th Burlington Northern anniversary year, hahaha!).

Please, please, oh pretty please, won't one of you manufacturers produce these models for us? They're such unique units, in at least two versions, that I'm guessing many of us BN fans/modelers would snap them up.

Oh please, please, pretty please?!

- Tom



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/24/20 15:18 by Sasquatch.

The MRL has operated the NP tracks Laurel to Sandpoint longer than the BN did.

Atlas would be the obvious choice as their high nosed B23-7 is already pretty close. But after BN, very few saw a second life. Only three shortlines that I know of repainted any (Providence & Worcester, Central Michigan, Minnesota Commercial), and a few other shortlines had patched units. By 2010 only a couple appeared to still be in operation.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/24/20 23:39 by funnelfan.

There used to be a guy selling that shell on ebay.
I can't find ANY of his stuff right now.
Crude but....
I bought a SD40X shell and am using the radiator section of the body and dumped everything else.

BNModeler Wrote:
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> There used to be a guy selling that shell on
> ebay.

That would be Pacific Northwest Resins, but they don't currently list a B30-7AB on either their website or Ebay;

https://pnwresins.com/collections/ho-scale-train-locomotive-engine-shells

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

Of note, a shortline in Mississippi, the Natchez Trace Railway, has one of the B30-7AB. Still in operation. In original BN paint. They just replaced a traction motor on it last week.

funnelfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Atlas would be the obvious choice as their high
> nosed B23-7 is already pretty close. But after BN,
> very few saw a second life. Only three shortlines
> that I know of repainted any (Providence &
> Worcester, Central Michigan, Minnesota
> Commercial), and a few other shortlines had
> patched units. By 2010 only a couple appeared to
> still be in operation.

Sierra Railroad had 20? Bought to be mobil power generators. Not sure if any worked revenue freight. There were 2 lines of them stored at McLellan AFB in Sacramento that I photographed in the mid '90s. I also remember seeing a couple in Manteca on a "day after WinterRail" fan trip on the Sierra RR. I don't think Sierra ever repainted (or patched) them from BN Cascade green and black.

Arved Grass
Fleming Island, FL

Sasquatch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The Vice President of Power here has earmarked
> unrestricted funds for the purchase of at least 4
> of these HO units, and at least 4 of these units
> in N-scale as well (you just can't have too many
> BN units in this 50th Burlington Northern
> anniversary year, hahaha!).
>
> Please, please, oh pretty please, won't one of you
> manufacturers produce these models for us? They're
> such unique units, in at least two versions, that
> I'm guessing many of us BN fans/modelers would
> snap them up.
>
> Oh please, please, pretty please?!
>
> - Tom

Well, Tom, I hope someone satisfies your request, but it won't be anyone from the BN.  The B30-7A(B)'s were among the first units sidelined by BNSF, and reportly were very unreliable.
If that's the case, you'd probably need four on a train to have one running at the end of the trip! LOL.  Do hope you get your wish.  

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA

Thanks Nick; just putting it out there and hoping. Until then I will continue to gaze longingly and appreciatively at Funnelfan's beautiful homebuilts. Those sure are beauties, Ted!

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?3,2222082,2222082#msg-2222082

- Tom

Posted from Android

I certainly can understand the desire to have one or more of the units. The kitbash I made back in 2012 is still one of my most frequetly operated locomotives. I have a resin shell and drive to make one with the large air box, but haven't started on that one yet.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

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Oh man, Ted; that's a great TOFC consist and prototypical Napavine Hill or Everett power set. Now I'm really jel.

And posters above: thanks for all the great info on these units; much appreciated.

- Tom



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/26/20 21:15 by Sasquatch.

Ahh... BN "Twinkies". Right up there on the top of the exotic BN list with LMX DASH-8s, and Oakway SD60s. Would be sweet to se one in RTR, but my hopes are severely limited...

~Mr. MRL

Well all you need is the Smokey Valley high hood end and the DB box kits and a Atlas B30 or an Athearn B boat chassis and RPP B boat shell, it's not really correct but it work's for me.  A can of Scale Coat rattle can BN green and black some Micro Scale BN decals that you have left over from other projects, a couple of after noon's and Wall'Ah you got a BN B30-7AB. I'll have to dig mine out, dust them off and  "run'um".