USA Rails - Foreign Power on the BNSF

Since its inception in 1995, the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) was quick to devise a new livery for its fleet, and was just as quick to re-paint and re-brand its locos – demonstrating that this was a company on a mission to get its name out there and generate business.

The fallen flags of BN green and SF warbonnets were soon replaced by the much loved/hated pumpkin orange.

Partly due to the an upturn in business since the Financial Crisis, and partly due to the requirement to comply with California's strict carbon emission requirements, the BNSF found itself with a shortage of motive power.

This is where the leased locos step in – with BNSF calling upon Citirail, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, Norfolk Southern, Kansas City Southern and CSX Transportation to help with the power shortage. Generally, BNSF trains entering California’s southwest basin only have the latest GEVO units in their consist, with leased locos being replaced at Barstow.

This results in many trains from Barstow eastwards having a variety of locos in their makeup.

The majority will have a BNSF unit on the point, but what brings up the rear can be a variety of any of the above locos – and what a sight; seeing eastern seaboard locos hauling through the great western deserts.

This production is a collection of shots filmed in 2014 of BNSF trains that have foreign power or fallen flags in their loco consist.

For those who easily tire of the constant parade of pumpkins, this is a welcome relief.