Railblazer
Westbound Coal Empty BNSF 3627 3628 Riverside Missouri
Two factory fresh BNSF Tier 4 GE's operating on the St. Joseph Subdivision occupy the rear of a JHMX coal empty, (Miller Steam Plant, Palos, AL to the Black Thunder Mine in Wyoming) passing the railroad location of Clarke, MO on their return trip to the Wyoming coalfields.
Passing Riverside, Missouri on February 10, 2024 sparkling ET44AC's 3627 and 3628 were both built at GE's Fort Worth, Texas facility in January, 2024.
BNSF originally purchased 325 GE ET44C4 models, numbered 3675 to 3999 built starting in 2015 until ET44C4 production ended in 2020. New ET44AC's, unlike earlier C4 models come built with six traction motors for increased pulling power in coal service.
New ES44AC's in the 3200 and 3300 series for coal service have been built the same way. BNSF refers to these new units as "Heavies" due to their additional 4000 lbs. of ballast for higher tractive effort. Railfans and photographers have also adopted the name.
Westbound Coal Empty BNSF 3627 3628 Riverside Missouri
Two factory fresh BNSF Tier 4 GE's operating on the St. Joseph Subdivision occupy the rear of a JHMX coal empty, (Miller Steam Plant, Palos, AL to the Black Thunder Mine in Wyoming) passing the railroad location of Clarke, MO on their return trip to the Wyoming coalfields.
Passing Riverside, Missouri on February 10, 2024 sparkling ET44AC's 3627 and 3628 were both built at GE's Fort Worth, Texas facility in January, 2024.
BNSF originally purchased 325 GE ET44C4 models, numbered 3675 to 3999 built starting in 2015 until ET44C4 production ended in 2020. New ET44AC's, unlike earlier C4 models come built with six traction motors for increased pulling power in coal service.
New ES44AC's in the 3200 and 3300 series for coal service have been built the same way. BNSF refers to these new units as "Heavies" due to their additional 4000 lbs. of ballast for higher tractive effort. Railfans and photographers have also adopted the name.