BNSF 1406; GP10

[diesel]

Here's another unit that's been on my bench that I've actually got moving.
I think I had some apprehension about weather or not I'd be able to do certain things so I let them sit until I was more confident.

I picked 1406 because it has a good amount of remnants of whatever that filter box thing is on top, but still not complete from when it was installed. In order to do that on this model I had to remove the doors directly below that which were as tall as the rest of the long hood doors.

Thanks to the modular construction of the P2Ks, I was able to take the cab from a GP20 and use it here. I took the windows from 2 fronts of cannon cabs that I wasn't using, with the L shaped windows stitched them together and those will replace the single pane in the GP20 cab. As usual, I need to get a few parts to finish this, but they're going on the same order as BNSF 2008, so it shouldn't be too long.

Prototype:

www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=9363

[danielsokyrail]

Is the 1406 still on the active roster or has it been retired?

[diesel]

I'm not sure about now, but 1406 is photographed in active service as of 2009. I did also want to do one of these because they lasted so long past the merger, on upto present day-ish... -outlasted most of the SD9s!

The reason I cut the nose and am doing all that with the cab is I got this for $20, & I'm trying to keep cost down, at least a little bit.

[SP_Modeler]

Really nice work Dan. It's going to be a cool one once you get it done.
Keep up the great work!
Paul

[diesel]

thanks Paul!

[mosteam3985]

This is really cool! I love that BNSF has such dated power on their roster as of late still. I live just south of the twin cities and I often find myself traveling up to Northtown Yard to take photos of BNSF equipment. My favorite locomotive up there is a Heritage 1 SD-9 (I think) that still sits up there to this day. It's just neat to see that on such a modern railroad. Nice work on the model and I am looking forward to seeing it finished!

[riss2509]

Last time i knew, all the GP10s had been retired. But, I could be very wrong! Really excited about this build!! Cant wait to see more!

[icghogger]

Excellent start, Dan, can't wait to see more!!

[diesel]

thank you all, it's encouraging really.

I was wrong about the date on this one as it was retired in 2001. I must have confused this with anohter image. The roster only retained about 16 of these after 2000 and were retired throughout the decade. Anyway I can't wait to finish this and the others on the bench.

[diesel]

@stephen, BN rebuilt these in 1975. That's the other half of the reason I'm doing this as a GP10. Originally, I wanted a GP7 with the air tanks on the roof. I had cut the skirt to match one of those types, but then realized, it would only fit on the edge of my time period, which is constantly moving to more of the modern era. I do still run the other 2 GP7s, but I just kinda 'forget' about the the date issue. lol I just can't completely let go of pre-merger BN.

edit: I was curious, so I looked this up. It's not 100% clear, but VMV may have done some of the work, I'm not sure who actually did, but they were originally BN GP7s to start with. But then, wouldn't they be GP10Vs?

[riss2509]

I believe it was all done at the burlington shops in Burlington, IA. vMV/paducah may have had a big part of this program, I have yet to find that info. There was a company out west, I dont remember the name, but they did parts to fully rebuild proto units into GP10's. Included in the kit was a proper nose, and filler piece for the cab window. Last time I knew they are out of business, but may find some on ebay for those who may want to do one someday! I did find this on the BN yahoo group of the GP10 upgrade program:

Here is the entire list:

Upgrade the 567B engines with 645 assemblies
D-22 main generator
D-77 traction motors
2,200 gal fuel tank
26-L air brakes
Paper air filters
Water cooler air compressor
Seven element lube oil filter
Six inch cooling water radiators
IDAC wheel slip system
Chopnose
Rewired high and low voltage circuts
Drinking water cooler
Retention toilet
Leslie SK3P chime horn
Prime Stratolight beacon

The 23 were given a life expectancy of 15 years. Many survive today ( on
different roads ) 35 years later.

[riss2509]

Also found that rebuilds was done at Glendive Montana.

[danielsokyrail]

I still think it awesome how bnsf, being such a large class 1 railroad, ran these small first gen diesels so long after everyone else cast them off.

[danraitz]

Guys,

In the 1974-75 BN Annual there is an article on these units, pg:90. This article has in process photos, plus a set of drawings showing top, front, rear, left side & right side.
It appears that all of the rebuilds were done at the West Burlington Shops from July 1974 to Nov. 1976.

BN #1406 started life as GN GP7 #606 built in Sept. 1950, it was renumbered to BN #1506 and finally rebuilt to a GP10, a.k.a. GP7u, in June 1975.

[diesel]

Thanks Dan, I was wondering if they had a designation like 'u' after the number. In this case it's an either or thing!

[diesel]

Dilema Time!!!

Originally I was looking at BNSF 1422, which is how I got confused on the retirement dates. I picked '06 because it had more of the roof filter still on there. BUT, in the process I removed all of the louvers on the sub-base as on 1422, 1406 still has louvers on the one rear door below the cab on the left side... OUCH! I might go back to 1422, at least the door arrangement on the long hood is the same.

edit: I just looked at 1406. It has the same louver still in the same place... so I lovered when I should have leavered!

[jbm875]

The company that made the nose sets was Cascade and Pacific shops. ( Ray Wheeler ) I have three sets all bought off ebay, where they appear infrequently. I am going to use a GP 20 frame, GP -18 cab and sub base, and a GP -7 long hood. Even then there will be some shaving off of louvers. As was previously stated they were all built at West Burlington in a program called CLRP. The program was re building GP-7's and NW 2's. A recession stopped it, and only three units were completed in a re start. Unlike the previous 12 or 13 that had Horst air filters, the last three came with the sealed Farr filter boxes, as the Horst types clogged with snow in the winter, and BN is a winter railroad. This means you can model two distinct types, but as the fleet aged, many changes were may to air filters, beacons, strobe lights, ditch lights, and of course paint schemes.

[diesel]

interesting jbm... I'll have to look more at the details of this unit to see where the differences lie. Do you think the nose I cut and glued will pass for the nose on the rebuild? hhhmmmmm.....

[jbm875]

Yes, I think the nose looks fine

[ssgburme]

I got a hand full of blueprints for the GP10 and it's modification's. What do you need to know? The later air filter box (1423-1438) is an AMER-KLEEN CARTRIDGE filter housing. I'm thinking these are the same kind on the GP9B rebuild's. The last one left the property in 2011? (1418)
Karl