2 BNSF SD40-2's on BARPAS(?) at Bend, OR, 10-30-11

[robjacox]

Caught a northbound tying down in Bend, OR, this afternoon (10-30-11) with a pair of SD40-2's in the consist. They were both running when we got there, but judging by the train size and that there were four Dash-9's ahead of them, I'm guessing they were isolated (but why would they be running, then?).

5425 North has H2-H2-H1-H1 Dash-9's with H1 SD40-2's 1942 and 1625 trailing.

I am just guessing it's the BARPAS by it's train makeup.

RRF member OT Local informed me Friday that the 1625 was LEADING a southbound by his house between Redmond and Bend in the wee hours of the morning last Friday.

 

[RailroadJeep]

I'm guessing they were isolated (but why would they be running, then?)

I'm not sure what your night time temp's are reaching, depending how cold it's getting, shutting the engine's down may require draining the coolant. Locomotive coolant (on BNSF at least...5thGenRR, care to weigh in on UP's practices?), although green like most antifreeze, is NOT antifreeze. So this time of year, engines isolated to comply with HPT restrictions are left running.

It's rare, but catching SD40-2's working together or leading does still happen! Pasco seem's to lucky having several SD40-2's, which appear to work local's from time to time.

 

[Cliffs]

Nice captures of those SDs. The light is magical.

The 5425 finished setting out loaded trash container cars at Hewett siding (MP 117.6 on the Fallbridge) and started pulling for Pasco a little after 06:00 this morning.

It was still too dark to see the power. But judging from the spacing of the safety lights on the steps, I would say those two SDs were still in the consist as the trailing units.