Comments on: Earlier in the afternoon I shot a wicked (in retrospect) CN 435 and back then, it was just another CN powered train. Since the SD40-2′s have become a real rarity on Canadian class 1′s the power is now classic and highly sought after by fans. But it wasn’t the catch of the day, heck I didn’t even really note it as worthy of a mention. If you clicked the 435 shot link above and seen how many of us were out that day – there were tonnes of us out, it was that rich, good stuff every hour… and about two freight trains an hour to boot. Arguably this M390 might not be the best train of the day (depends who you ask) but I’m really thrilled to have the SD40-2′s – since they are in fact my favourite all time engine. A pair of BNSF SD40-2′s today is unheard of in run-through service, let alone leading. What has BNSF done to their sd40-2 fleet – any left? if yes, used on what? Please comment below, with thanks. I really don’t spend time following the western railways so I just don’t know the status of their roster. Cheers!

By: snake

snake — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 20:18:23 +0000

Phil..do you not have train to drive..somewhere
? yet?

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 17:49:47 +0000

Thanks! Never heard of Trimmer jobs, I guess I’m not one to watch hump yard action then.

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 17:06:07 +0000

Actually, the trimmer jobs at Mac Yrd at East or West or the local hump did not use air in any cars as cars that are humped have no air in them. The jobs just couple up the tracks and shove them into the outbound tracks for the car dept to inspect and couple up the air hoses.

By: Joseph Bishop

Joseph Bishop — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 15:47:26 +0000

In the instance of Galesburg where I photographed this: https://www.flickr.com/photos/93850525@N02/34405300994/in/album-72157681808009264/

The trimmer jobs are the trains that pull down cars from the yard and classify them to build trains. Pretty impressive to see/hear. Sometimes 100+ cars on the drawbar and only 13-14 have their air brakes tied on to the unit.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 13:13:41 +0000

Thanks Joe – what’s a Trimmer job? if you google it you’d think you’d be working for the “green leaf” division of the LCBO..

Matt that’s great

By: mattwatson

mattwatson — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 03:02:42 +0000

Geez I was right net to you for this one as well. SD40-2′s are pretty rare everywhere I seem to go on the west end of BNSF, CA,AZ,NM,MT,ID,WA.

By: Kevin Flood

Kevin Flood — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 01:12:19 +0000

Another shot from 2006. I still have some to pull out from that year. In my opinion it was the best year for trains…particularly on CN.

By: awmooney

awmooney — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 01:11:34 +0000

I remember this train on this given day as well. Saw it at Copetown. The fans were on high alert this day for sure.

By: Joseph Bishop

Joseph Bishop — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 00:47:38 +0000

Majority of BNSF SD40-2′s are now delegated to local and yard service. Galesburg had a plethora of SD40′s for trimmer jobs, hump sets and general yard work.

By: CNSD60F

CNSD60F — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 00:26:59 +0000

BNSF still has a good amount of SD40-2s, in the 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800 and 1900 series. They were renumbered to make room for more GEVOs. The two pictured are sadly dead. Occasionally BNSF SD40-2s will go on mainline trains (manifest, grain, etc.)