Locomotive Spotlight #7-2026/ BN GP50 #3148

 Greetings all,

Locomotive Spotlight #7-2026

Burlington Northern GP50 #3148

Welcome to another installment in the ongoing Locomotive Spotlight Series. Today the spotlight will shine on BN EMD GP50 #3148.

Prototype Info

An EMD GP50 is a 4-axle diesel–electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD). It is powered by a 16-cylinder EMD 645F3B diesel engine, which can produce between 3,500 and 3,600 hp. 278 examples of this locomotive were built by EMD between 1980 and 1985. BN 3110-3162 were all delivered with five cab seats, the final five of these having the cab lengthened 23 in (584 mm) vs. the standard EMD cab. The GP50 retains the same overall length of 59 feet 2 inches as the GP38, GP39, and GP40 series locomotives.

EMD delivered the first GP50s to Chicago and North Western in the summer of 1980. Much of the GP50's new technology was tested and developed with the experimental GP40X.

"Chicago & North Western CNW 5086 (GP50)" by Gary Lee Todd, Ph.D. is marked with CC0 1.0.

The GP50 was the first production locomotive to feature EMD's Super Series wheel slip control system, first seen on the GP40X. Super Series employs a Doppler radar unit mounted under the front coupler pocket to measure the locomotive's speed and adjusts the power to each axle to provide maximum adhesion while eliminating wheel slip. This system provided an increase in adhesion of at least 33% compared to conventional locomotives.

"BN 3157 IL Eola" by Photo by Sean Lamb Original uploader was Slambo at en.wikipedia is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Other changes compared to the GP40-2 include an underframe with a lighter, deeper sill that reduced the frame's weight and a new exhaust system and "Q-type" cooling fans to meet January 1980 Federal noise regulations.

"Burlington Northern BN 3116 (GP50)" by Gary Lee Todd, Ph.D. is marked with CC0 1.0.

The GP50 was the first production locomotive series to be fitted with a microprocessor. EMD fitted the 60 series with microprocessors as standard following the success of LARS which was developed in partnership with Burlington Northern and Rockwell.

"Burlington Northern BN 3122 (GP50)" by Gary Lee Todd, Ph.D. is marked with CC0 1.0.

The Burlington Northern Railroad roster included 63 EMD GP50 locomotives numbered 3100 through 3162, built between 1980 and 1985. Road numbers 3100–3109 were originally ordered by the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway (Frisco) before the merger, with unit 3100 being the only one delivered in Frisco colors.

"11/19/82, BN GP50 3100" by OHFalcon72 is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

BN Roster Breakdown 

Road Numbers: 3100 – 3162. Total Quantity: 63 

Locomotive Builder: Electro-Motive Division (EMD)

Build Years: 1980 – 1985

Special Features: Units 3108 through 3157 were equipped with Auxiliary-Generator/LARS (Load Allocation and Reduction System) gear, and unit 3158 featured a unique experimental crew cab.

"2/2 BNSF 3160 Leads SB Lenexa Local Lenexa, KS 12-14-17" by KansasScanner is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Model Info

The new Athearn Blue Box Burlington Northern GP50 locomotive #3148 came complete with the add on details in the yellow envelope and the long hood rails under the foam.

Just out of the box and ready for testing and cosmetic details. The BN GP50 sports what is known as the "white face scheme"

Going to need the #72 drill bit for the stanchions and railings!!

Typical Blue Box locomotive power chassis with brass flywheels and the Athearn power strap transmitting rail power from the trucks to the motor and headlight.

The power chassis is ready for testing with hardwired electrical contacts, Kadee couplers, trucks painted flat black with truck details added.

One of the best ways to upgrade an inexpensive locomotive (by today's standards) is the adding of numerals in the number boards and the painting of the handrails. The 3148 numbers are from the remainder of a set of NYC decals.  

The wire handrails were installed to the model and both the shell and handrails were sprayed with Testor's Dullcote prior to brush painting the handrails with water based Hunter Green hobby paint. The camera catches the imperfection on the rear stanchion. This was corrected after I saw this photo!

GP50 #3148 with friends comes out of Terminal Yard as it makes its first run on the layout.

The BN Train on the move.

Looking good passing RA Tower.

This Walthers BN caboose bringing up the markers was the last Christmas gift I received from my late mother-in-law who loved the trains, the layout and shopping from the Walthers monthly flyer.

Final Thoughts & Comments

The BN GP50 was purchased for powering the above BN Intermodal train with the other two BN units (SD40-2 & GP38-2) coming from my oldest son's BN fleet. The three locomotive consist is needed to move the train easily and get it up and down the slide. The two four axle units struggle with the train even on level track. Perhaps too much power and not enough axle to quote Big Mike Bednar of the JPM Videos.

The GP50 can also be partnered with an ex BN HLCX SD40-2 and a BNSF GP38-2 on the BN Intermodal train or another late 1990s freight train. The former is part of the oldest guy's BN fleet and the latter is part on the BINO man's fleet.

Lastly while the Athearn BB locomotives lack many separately added details and no electronics they are rugged and good runners. I'm also a big fan of the metal handrails which don't break or wave at you.

Additional Links & Info

BN GP50 #3148 Unknown Place and Date

BN GP50 #3148 at Lincoln, NE 1992

BNSF GP50 #3148 at Mendota, IL 2009

Thanks for reading & watching!!!

See you soon!!!

New York New Jersey Ops #4 / Part 6 / Final Deliveries & Interchanges

  Greetings All,

Welcome Back to New York - New Jersey Ops #4!!!

Our two layout virtual op with the NYCTL interchanging freight traffic with Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific Railroad concludes today with the NY-NJ freight traffic from Rock Ridge Yard getting moved to their final destinations and interchanges.

Our final installment starts today with Big Mike building Train EC-1, the daily transfer freight from Terminal Yard to North Side Yard.

A long cut of Empire City freight traffic and Long Island traffic gets pulled out of track #2.

The cut is shoved into track #8 to get ready for departure.

Meanwhile over at the engine terminal Alco Joe is picking up his motive power for the EC-1. 

Alco Joe has coupled up his three Alco lash up (C425-RS11-C425) onto the EC-1 freight consist and shoots the breeze with Kar Knocker and Big Mike.

The terminal switcher tacks on a PC Transfer Caboose to the hind end of the EC-1. 

Train EC-1 departs Terminal Yard for North Side Yard.

Train EC-1 engineer Alco Joe and conductor Murray check in with the Empire Belt guys. 

With no freight traffic heading back to Terminal Yard the PC crew heads back caboose lite.

With the tracks clear EBRR Senior Engineer Sir Neal starts getting North Side Yard in order by pulling out a quartet of empty APRR 6000 series RBLs that were held to fulfill a local empty car request.

The APRR RBLs are coupled onto four empty EBRR gondolas who have returned home for their next NY-NJ loads.

The loaded Cargill Salt covered hopper is the last of the NYNJ traffic heading to a local industry.

The Empire City Proper cars are coupled onto their caboose for their next movements.

Sir Neal clears track #2 that contained the excess cars from Train EC-1.

The track #2 cars are coupled into the rest of the Long Islands on track #3.

After getting the yard in order the EBRR crew gets the Belt Job ready to depart the yard.

The Belt Job shoves out of North Side Yard.

The first stop is the Quaker Oats plant to deliver the Cargill Salt covered hopper loaded with.... salt.

Next four empty EBRR gondolas are placed at Gervais Pipe & Fitting for their next NYNJ loads.

With the work in Haydon Heights completed the Belt Job heads to the Hohman Ave Industrial Park.

The first pull in the industrial park is this Hoschton Railway RBL from Moore & Company. The Hoschton Railway is the freelance railroad of our late friend Engineer Ed.

After clearing the Moore & Company siding Sir Neal places the four APRR RBLs side by side for the forklift operators to travel from car to car via steel plates for their next NYNJ loads.

The work in the industrial park is done and the Belt Job prepares to head back to North Side Yard.

The Belt Job returns to North Side Yard.

Once back in the yard conductor John has gone over the waybills and notes the three gondolas of pipe pulled from Gervais Pipe & Fitting are consigned to Albert Pipe, an LIRR customer. With the LIRR transfer due later today the guys decide to add them to their outbound train.

The three gondolas of pipe are placed on the headend of the LIRR traffic that will be going to Fresh Pond Junction.

The engines are tied down and the EBRR guys critique their day. When asked where the radio control unit is Sir Neal replied "don't ask, I'll never use that thing again!".

A short time later LIRR Train MA-3 from Fresh Pond Junction is coming thru Bedford towards Empire City.

Train MA-3 arrives in North Side Yard.

The LIRR engineer pulls the caboose from the MA-3 and shoves it to the other end of the yard.

The caboose is placed at the other end of the yard to take advantage of the built in dip that will allow it to roll into the track containing the MA-4 freight consist.

The LIRR caboose has rolled into track #3 and coupled onto the last car in the MA-4 consist with no local railfans to video the move. Wonder where they are today?

LIRR engineer Long Island Mike talks with the EBRR guys discussing this latest virtual op before departing with LIRR Train MA-4

LIRR Train MA-4 heads to Fresh Pond Junction.

Next stop Fresh Pond Junction!!!

"Put it in the books"!!! Today we salute long time NY Mets announcer Howie Rose who coined this phrase and who is retiring after this season. Mets fans from around the world are going to miss you Howie. Best wishes for a long and happy retirement!!

This concludes NY-NJ Op #4 on the NYCTL. Be sure to catch all the action on Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific Railroad.

Thanks for reading and watching!!!

See you soon!!!

New York New Jersey Ops #4 / Part 5 / NYNJ Traffic Begins to Get Delivered

   Greetings All,

Welcome Back to New York - New Jersey Ops #4!!!

Our two layout virtual op with the NYCTL interchanging freight traffic with Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific Railroad continues today with inbound NY-NJ freight traffic from Rock Ridge Yard getting moved to their intended consignees and interchanges.

We open  the action today in Terminal Yard with the terminal switcher coupling a caboose onto the NYNJ freight cars going to the Bedford Park Ford Plant.

The terminal switcher sets up the NYNJ freight traffic for the Bedford Park Ford Plant on track #8.

Over in Bedford Park Yard PC engineer Robrt R is reporting for duty.

The Bedford Park Yard Job starts the day at the Ford Plant pulling empty non  NYNJ boxcars and flatcars.

Empty boxcars and flatcars are pulled from the B and C tracks.

Empty 60' NYC boxcars pulled from the A track get coupled onto the BPYJ caboose.

Robert R brings the BPYJ out to Bedford Tower and awaits clearance from the dispatcher to proceed to Terminal Yard as Train BP-12.

Train BP-12 makes its run to Terminal Yard.

After cutting off from the BP-12 freight consist engineer Robert R. couples his Alco RS2s onto the BP-41 freight consist for its shove move to Bedford Park Yard.

PC Train BP-41 is shoved to Bedford Park Yark.

The BP-41 is back in Bedford Park Yard and begins its work servicing the Ford Plant by shoving three empty B&O auto racks into the B and C tracks for their next NYNJ loads of automobiles.

Three loaded 86' boxcars from IDEAL Auto Parts including the below EBRR 86'er get shoved into the A track for unloading.

Two loaded APRR 86'ers from IDEAL Auto Parts round out the three loaded boxcars from IDEAL being shoved into the A track for unloading.

After servicing the Ford Plant Robert R. takes care of some non NYNJ business pulling a pair of boxcars from All-City Storage.

The empty boxcars are placed in Bedford Park Yard to await their next move to Terminal Yard. Robert R ties down the Alcos on the #2 track and heads for beans.

Back at Terminal Yard a quartet of B-Boats couple up to Train TYBN (Terminal Yard-BN Yard) for movement to BN Yard in the Bronx

to deliver the four gondolas of steel products from Shapeless Steel to Century Steel.

Train TYBN makes its run to BN Yard.

We'll cut it here for today with TYBN heading into the Bronx to deliver the train to BN Yard.

We'll pick it tomorrow with Big Mike building Train EC-1, the transfer freight from Terminal Yard to North Side Yard.

This concludes part 5 on the NYCTL. Be sure to catch all the action on Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific Railroad.

Thanks for reading and watching!!!

See you tomorrow!!!