First, wow, don't even have to go through the sign-up proceedure to post here. RYPN has been a great forum to read about preservation, and I thought maybe this essay is appropriate to share here.

Keep it up!

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I've had my eye on the BNSF Maersk locomotive #6976 for quite some time now, seeing it's historical value and heritage. Starting out as Amtrak's first order of engines, the SDP40Fs, it later was converted to a freight engine for Santa Fe.

Now with BNSF, it became a signature and PR locomotive bearing the Maersk blue and silver paint scheme. It's also the last known former Amtrak SDP40F that didn't face the flaming torch.

Being involved with museum efforts in Portland, Oregon, including the rescue of my namesake engine, I couldn't help but inquire what possibilities there were to acquire the 6976 for preservation. Either BNSF will sell it to another party who may not be interested in saving it, or sell to scrap.

The Friends of 4449 is willing to accept the 6976 for preservation, and future use and display in a museum. The Friends of 4449 is a tax deductible IRS 501(c) non-profit organization, and is based in Portland, OR.

As most of you already know, I've got my hands full with fundraisers, museum activities, getting 231 back in shape, etc. However, I am able to acquire the locomotive for $8,000.

If someone is willing to take the plunge, with any creative ideas they might have that would acquire the 6976 soon, contact me at f40phr231@yahoo.com -- One idea that comes to mind, is one purchasing the locomotive on behalf of the Friends of 4449 -- Then using the tax ID number available to write it off. But it can be done in other ways...

Should the acquisition of 6976 happen, transportation will be arranged, and it'll be a signature locomotive to be added to the preservation list. I would hope this attracts more volunteers, from novices to experts, to get their hands dirty and learn more about diesel locomotives.

I've already done this, I know others can.

To view history and photos of the 6976, visit this well-done website!

http://atsf.railfan.net/cowls/sdp40f.html

And more about the F40 231...

http://www.f40phr231.org

f40phr231@yahoo.com

That is a locomotive worthy of preservation. I wish you good luck in aquiring it.

Gad, I thought we lost all of them.

Quick questions:
1) How intact is it? How much has it been altered from Amtrak operation/appearance, and is it your intention to restore it as an Amtrak loco or as something else?

2) Are there any obstacles to restoration to operation as a passenger loco--possibly in tamden with 231? The trucks, for one........

3) Would another party be able to acquire the loco from you for future restoration, should they a) present a viable plan/proposal and funding, and b) you find your hands full? I'm not in any way decrying or denigrating your proposals, but such a notable loco *might* find a better home at, say, Sacramento under the right circumstances......

LNER4472-NOSPAM-@bcpl.net

> Quick questions:
> 1) How intact is it? How much has it been
> altered from Amtrak operation/appearance,
> and is it your intention to restore it as an
> Amtrak loco or as something else?

> 2) Are there any obstacles to restoration to
> operation as a passenger loco--possibly in
> tamden with 231? The trucks, for one........

In regards to your first point - it is important to recongnize the signifance in its current freight configuration. The SDP40F was designed so that it could be readily sold to freight railroads if Amtrak was discontinued. The fact that this locomotive served in freight service longer than passenger service proves this point. In particular, it was welcomed on the Santa Fe because it meshed well with their fleet of F-45 and FP-45 locomotives and their high-speed intermodal trains.

How does it differ from its Amtrak configuration. First, the ATSF removed the steam generator and the accompanying water tanks. Second, the Santa Fe added steps and notched the nose to permit entry through the nose (like to their other EMD cowl units). Third, they added a cab airconditioner. Forth? They probably regeard the units and performed other wiring upgrades.

In short, the best way to restore this unit would be to its 1980's Blue-Bonnet scheme - as it emerged from rebuilding by ATSF. When the unit is displayed, the aforementioned changes should be highlighted and discussed - as they illustrate the history of the locomotive and the important differences between freight and passenger locomotives.

In regards to point two -- There was a two-part article in Railfan Railroad a few years back that discussed these locomotives. It argued that the likely cause of the derailments was the lateral force of the boiler water sloshing back and forth in the above-frame storage tanks. This was a design feature unique to the SDP40F. For an interesting comparison, look at the service of the F40C's still in service in Chicago. These units are virtually identical to the SDP40F mechanically, except for the fact that they were built with HEP generators.

In short, while it would be possible to back date the unit, there is no real reason to do so as it can be better interpreted and operated in its current configuration.

Tom Cornillie

rrhistorian@hotmail.com

Here's a post from another message board, I thought I should post here to clarify a few things.

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Topfuel Wrote:

Let me see if I have this straight. I can GIVE YOU $8,000.00, so you can now go around telling everyone within earshot that YOU now "OWN" another locomotive? Nothing doing. If I want to preserve this locomotive (and I have already talked to BNSF several times about aquiring it myself) then I'll pay the $8,000 to BNSF and buy it myself. As I said on another board with regards to "your" F40, if it's so important to you, then buy it with YOUR money. Don't keep putting the bite on other people to put up the cash for your pet projects.

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F40PHR231 Wrote:

You have a valid point, and it's completely the opposite of what's going on here.

1, as stated, the locomotive would be purchased on behalf of the Friends of 4449. It would be the Friends of 4449 who acquires the engine, not me. That is called a donation.

2, reason I "own" the F40 231, is because I bought it with a loan. Not a grant, not free cash, but with money that needs to be repaid. So yes, I own it.

The donations that are made to the project, housed under the Friends of 4449, help repay the loan. Once the donations reach $20,000 -- I will no longer own it, the Friends of 4449 will. (Also note that the loaner wished to remain anonymous, so no fanfare there.)

2a, 231 came VERY close to being sold to the scrapper, and I did a lot of work to save it. Having that done, the donations made to the project allow people -- over time -- to help. Each and every one of those that contribute the first $20,000 can say "I helped save that locomotive." When the rescue is over with, I am thinking of making a plaque, with a list of volunteered names, to recognize those who participated.

3, if I had spare cash, I would buy the 6976, but I've got my hands full. Should the 6976 actually come to Portland, I previously said that I hope it would attract new volunteers, to have a locomotive to work on, preserve, and learn more about diesels.

I know many people would like to see the 6976 preserved, and often times I get tired of hearing people saying "gee, this locomotive should be saved!" -- when too much of that happens, the locomotive disappears, and it's too late!

What we've got here, is a chance to save a historical locomotive. I'm stepping up to the plate to lay the ground work, that is by being able to negotiate a price, transportation, and a home.

I will not, however, buy the locomotive. Why should it just be me that does all the work? I'm not interested in having another locomotive on my hands, especially if it's one I've never seen before.

I just know it needs to be saved, and I did the dirty preparation work to make it possible -- This is the community's chance to be involved. Yes, financially -- I'm not going to bury myself with 100 thousands of dollars in loans to rescue every locomotive that should be preserved.

If the chance passes, then I'll be satisfied knowing that I tried to help, and hope another opportunity comes up for someone else. If not, we as the railroad community, won't be able to share SDP40F and SDF40-2 history with our future generations.

Bottom line, the 6976 needs to be saved, and preserved.

~Chris



f40phr231@yahoo.com

Alexander,

Others have already described what the engine's gone through, and the website I provided has pictures. Hope that helped your first 2 questions.

However, you talk about others acquiring the locomotive. DO IT! I'm tired of hearing about lost engines that should've been saved. Following that, there's everybody saying "one should've been saved"

It's not going to hurt me if someone else, like Sacramento, gets it. But with what I've done so far, I sure would hope it helps, and be part of that preservation process.

The deal here, is an opportunity. See my other post I just put up. Bottom line is, 6976 needs to be saved, soon!

~Chris

> Gad, I thought we lost all of them.

> Quick questions:
> 1) How intact is it? How much has it been
> altered from Amtrak operation/appearance,
> and is it your intention to restore it as an
> Amtrak loco or as something else?

> 2) Are there any obstacles to restoration to
> operation as a passenger loco--possibly in
> tamden with 231? The trucks, for one........

> 3) Would another party be able to acquire
> the loco from you for future restoration,
> should they a) present a viable
> plan/proposal and funding, and b) you find
> your hands full? I'm not in any way decrying
> or denigrating your proposals, but such a
> notable loco *might* find a better home at,
> say, Sacramento under the right
> circumstances......


f40phr231@yahoo.com

> I just know it needs to be saved, and I did
> the dirty preparation work to make it
> possible -- This is the community's chance
> to be involved. Yes, financially -- I'm not
> going to bury myself with 100 thousands of
> dollars in loans to rescue every locomotive
> that should be preserved.

> If the chance passes, then I'll be satisfied
> knowing that I tried to help, and hope
> another opportunity comes up for someone
> else. If not, we as the railroad community,
> won't be able to share SDP40F and SDF40-2
> history with our future generations.

> Bottom line, the 6976 needs to be saved, and
> preserved.

Chris,

Please remember that I mean no disrespect; I wish you and your project well, and hope you succeed. Remember also that I wrote an essay for Trains Magazine proposing preservation of more than one F40PH, albeit in a different form than what has transpired so far.

However..........

I need to reprimand you ever so slightly on your word choice. Yes, it would be nice to see a last example of Amtrak's first locomotive class saved. But, in the grand scheme of things, when we have several noteworthy museums and projects languishing or dying in the current environment, I want you to approach the project with at least some "big picture" awareness.

Face it, Amtrak itself is in jeopardy. There isn't (apparently) a coherent and noteworthy Amtrak Historical Society at the moment to spearhead or back this proposed project, despite some abortive attempts at such a group. And right now, about the ONLY privately-owned locomotives deemed trustworthy enough at the moment to handle Amtrak-grade trains is Bennett Levin's PRR duo--and only because their Amtrak and Conrail upgrades have been maintained.

Furthermore, the SDP40F, rightly or wrongly, got branded a "lemon" and suffered a true lack of respect. It may well be a case similar to the PRR T1--all the fans who drolled at them never had to be stuck with actually running one and keeping it going. The F40PH, on the other hand, turned out in the end to be "the little engine that could", even though they had their problems as well. Furthermore, as I recall a couple of EMD box-cowl F45/FP45's, predecessor to the SDP40Fs, have been saved--Illinois Ry. Museum and Sacramento, I think.

I'm sorry if I somehow lack your enthusiasm and zeal for the project. Someday in the future the curators of the Portland Railroad Museum may well be naming a wing in your memory for your tremendous and tireless foresight. And you are to be commended for putting your energy where your mouth is--which is more than I can say for even myself, to some extent. Just, please, remember that the future of railroad preservation does not revolve around this locomotive.


LNER4472-NOSPAM-@bcpl.net