In March, CSX and NS traded 12 CSX SD80MACs for 12 NS SD40-2s. Following the trade, NS immediately placed the SD80MACs into revenue service, while CSX stored its acquired fleet of SD40-2s at its Huntington Locomotive Shops. CSX renumbered the locomotives into the 8900 series and painted over the NS logos with its YN3b boxcar logo. The unique yellow-on-black scheme piqued interest for enthusiasts who were anxious to see the locomotives enter revenue service.
Now, CSX is transporting the locomotives from W.Va. to Idaho for rebuilding into its growing fleet of 4000 series SD40-3s. The first batch of ex- NS SD40-2s Nos. 8901-8904, 8906, and 8909 departed Huntington in late August enroute to Motive Power Inc. in Boise, Idaho for rebuild. The locomotives were interchanged to a western Class I railroad in St. Louis last week.
The six remaining NS SD40-2’s left Huntington, W.Va., in a move on Sept. 3. Nos. 8900, 8905, 8907-8908, 8910-8911 were included in last week’s deadhead move. The locomotives were handed over to the St. Louis interchange early this week.
The railroad has been sending out-of-service SD40-2s to Boise for several months now, including one of its last YN1 painted SD40-2s, last month.
Jesse, NS got these with the breakup of Conrail, so they were never set up to run long hood forward (LHF). These were originally various B&O (CNJ), KCS, PC and PRR SD40's which CR had upgraded into Dash-2's in 1993, and now they're going to be upgraded into Dash-3's!
The SD40-2 lives on, the locomotive that used to make me think "Meh, another brick-on-a-skateboard!" in the eighties and nineties is now one I enjoy shooting pics of on the mainline!
Did these ever run LHF w/N&W before the NS/S merger? I know that both Southern and N&W ran LHF for many generations of EMD products.
The SD-40 was always one of my favorites. It is good to see them live on in revenue service. I will be able to watch them for some years to come, apparently.
There will now be a new paint scheme on some of my SD-40s. I think they will look good with my L&N black F7s. CSX should have done this in the beginning when they started. Looks a lot better than the blue and grey.
Motive Power in Boise has been testing similar locos over the summer. Didn't get close enough to see road numbers but they've been on their test track over the summer.I wondered why CSX locomotives were in Boise, now I know why!
The advantages of cheaper oil, older locomotives being rebuilt.
I like the yellow on black paint scheme! Reminds me of the old Clinchfield.
Here's something for the model community to jump on.
Neat!