Don't forget SDP40 MRL 290 which is still operating. It was former GN 321 and is one of two former GN passenger engines on MRL. The aforementioned MRL 127 being the former GN 680 which was one of only two passenger GP9's on the GN. However it looks much different that it did as a GN unit with the removal of the "torpedo tanks" and addition of dynamic brakes as well as a chopped nose. The rear headlight gives a clue since the twin beam is lower than normal due to the addition of red warning light used on the front end (long hood) of the GN passenger GP9's.

Nevertheless I don't see BNSF buying and/or painting any pre-merger locomotives. If they do anything it would likely be with new locomotives since they more accurately represents the image they are trying to put forward. Still I think it would be great to preserve the 290 as a mate to the GN 325 in Minnesota. How about one in orange and one in blue? This would represent 1/3 of the total production of SDP40's in the USA. (Mexico also had some.)


Bruce Butler Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Jon Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I believe MRL has a few ex-NP and GN SD40s/45s.
>
> Only one, 351, ex GN 415 and it is listed as
> "Livingston; stored unserviceable".
>
> NP never owned any SD40's, only SD45's and various
> models of GE 6-axle Uboats, U25C, U28C, U33C. All
> of the ex NP GE's were eventually scrapped.
>
> One ex NP SD45 went to the WC as their 7435 and
> was donated to the Lake Superior Transportation
> Museum in Duluth MN, but I could not find any
> mention of it on their web site. However I did
> find this site about the restoration of NP 3617.
> They are currently doing a cosmetic restoration
> but eventually would like to make it operable.
> There is a chance that it could even operate on
> former NP trackage in Minnesota.
>
> From the MRL locomotive roster dated 8/7/2013 and
> maintained by Brad Mueller, I find the following
> still on the MRL roster:
> SW1200: 12(NP149), 13(NP161), 14(NP144),
> 17(NP156), and 18(NP157)
> GP9: 109(NP210), 113(NP291), 117(GN681),
> 118(NP339), 120(NP341), 123(NP351), and
> 127(GN680)
> SD45M: 351(GN415)
>
> Please note that I have only included locomotives
> CURRENTLY (as of 8/7/2013) rostered by MRL. Most
> of their current SD40 units are former BN and
> their current SD45 units are ex SP. Also most, if
> not all remaining GP9's are chop-nosed.
>
> I thought I got this Brad Mueller roster from the
> MRL Yahoo group but now I can't find it.
>
> Here is another current MRL roster that lists
> current status of each locomotive. Many of those
> I listed above are stored.