03-01-2011, 02:45 PM
Hello Russ,
I did use http://railpictures.net/ because I can search for model (GP38) railroad (BNSF) and state (California). The list is short and only the 2191 has a picture in the LA area in the list.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/default.aspx is also a great site for detail analysis. I did look into each BNSF GP38 from 2190 to 2248. Some (2206, 2218, 2219, 2224, 2228, 2231 and 2235) have a photo taken in LA or Commerce (some in BNSF colors, most in old ATSF colors with patch). I did not look into the others as they have the front light in the nose.
All this photos show the engine at some kind of larger yard or pulling a "real" train (no switching cut). None of the photo could be used to proof the engine is in the LA area to serve local industry. The http://www.westcoastrailforums.com/index.php forum has lots of photos taken while local industry or at least while local transfers are performed. None of that photos show a BNSF GP38 and my question about GP38 in LA is still open pending.
I assume BNSF did not use GP38 in the LA area for local tasks. The very few engines on photos taken in LA are engines that came in from the east and did return very soon without local jobs. Tough luck for me...
However, that is wild guessing only. The photos do not proof the absence of an engine. It is pure luck if someone made a photo when the engine was at a specific location. That is very true if you are looking for older/none impressive engines doing local jobs. Most photos are taken from new high end engines in remarkable scenery or at convenient yard locations. That is one reason why I like the west coast forum so much. The photos are very unique showing mostly engines performing local jobs.
Thanks for your posting. It was very helpful and not confusing at all
ps. If someone would ask me what should be on his layout to justify virtually all ATSF/BNSF engines, my answer would be: The grain silos of Saginawa,TX. I did find thousands of photos with that prominent background
I did use http://railpictures.net/ because I can search for model (GP38) railroad (BNSF) and state (California). The list is short and only the 2191 has a picture in the LA area in the list.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/default.aspx is also a great site for detail analysis. I did look into each BNSF GP38 from 2190 to 2248. Some (2206, 2218, 2219, 2224, 2228, 2231 and 2235) have a photo taken in LA or Commerce (some in BNSF colors, most in old ATSF colors with patch). I did not look into the others as they have the front light in the nose.
All this photos show the engine at some kind of larger yard or pulling a "real" train (no switching cut). None of the photo could be used to proof the engine is in the LA area to serve local industry. The http://www.westcoastrailforums.com/index.php forum has lots of photos taken while local industry or at least while local transfers are performed. None of that photos show a BNSF GP38 and my question about GP38 in LA is still open pending.
I assume BNSF did not use GP38 in the LA area for local tasks. The very few engines on photos taken in LA are engines that came in from the east and did return very soon without local jobs. Tough luck for me...
However, that is wild guessing only. The photos do not proof the absence of an engine. It is pure luck if someone made a photo when the engine was at a specific location. That is very true if you are looking for older/none impressive engines doing local jobs. Most photos are taken from new high end engines in remarkable scenery or at convenient yard locations. That is one reason why I like the west coast forum so much. The photos are very unique showing mostly engines performing local jobs.
Thanks for your posting. It was very helpful and not confusing at all
ps. If someone would ask me what should be on his layout to justify virtually all ATSF/BNSF engines, my answer would be: The grain silos of Saginawa,TX. I did find thousands of photos with that prominent background
Reinhard