BNSF vs. UP

crazytiger · 08-29-2009, 06:38 PM

In light of the CSXT vs. NS discussion by King Air, I figured I would start an equivalent thread for BNSF and UP. Now for my opinion.

Because I'm from the east, I've spent less time roaming these lines, but nevertheless, I have a favorite. Just last week I was able to spend a couple hours on a UP main and a few days on a BNSF main. As I watched the BNSF trains, nothing about them excited me much more than that they were trains. Yes, I like there paint scheme and there SD70M-2s. But it really wasn't that impressive. On Thursday, last week, I was able to spend a couple hours by a UP main and I really got excited. Excited by the UP spirit. BIG. The American spirit they support (not that BNSF is un-American) and the Heritage spirit. I wasn't able to see any but I appreciate UP's desire to advertise there past. In my few hours there, UP made me proud to be an American, proud to be a railfan, and even more excited about trains (is that possible?).

Trains n Airplanes · 09-01-2009, 12:13 AM

BNSF should have heritage color schemes on their locomotives like what USAirways does with their heritage liveries on their Airbus 319's from the airlines they have acquired in the past. They could have a couple of GN, SP&S, NP, CB&Q, and SLSF painted locomotives each.

Nahant · 09-01-2009, 12:58 AM

Now this is a much harder question to answer then the other one was for me. On one hand we have UP with their endless amount of trains in my area, but really no verity what so ever. On the other hand you have BNSF with many fewer trains, but more interesting ones. Plus, BNSF seems to have more foreign power on it. I'll guess I'll have to say BNSF.

JimThias · 09-01-2009, 03:17 AM

Easy choice...BSNF has much better paint schemes.

TAMR159 · 09-01-2009, 04:50 AM

UP all the way! I've seen far too many sun-faded Dash 9s and GEVOs so dirty they look brown...it's to the point that I'd rather shoot a pair of UP's SD70Ms (or more likely just not bother going out...I don't see why some people go nuts over locomotives so incredibly common as BNSF GEs).

crazytiger · 09-06-2009, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trains n Airplanes

BNSF should have heritage color schemes on their locomotives like what USAirways does with their heritage liveries on their Airbus 319's from the airlines they have acquired in the past. They could have a couple of GN, SP&S, NP, CB&Q, and SLSF painted locomotives each.

That's why UP is superior to BNSF. They've actually realized the awesomeness of keeping old schemes up and kicking.

Ween · 09-06-2009, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazytiger

That's why UP is superior to BNSF. They've actually realized the awesomeness of keeping old schemes up and kicking.

Fail.

At least with BNSF, you can still see 'BN' and 'Santa Fe' on the nose of their true heritage units (for the most part...SD70MACs not included)...how's your luck shooting Rio Grande or SP units without a UP shield on the nose? Ooooh, yeah, not so much...

crazytiger · 09-07-2009, 01:31 AM

Would you mind giving me more history of these units and some pics?

travsirocz · 09-07-2009, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazytiger

Would you mind giving me more history of these units and some pics?

What??

Search Union Pacific. 1/4 of them are patched.

JimThias · 09-07-2009, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazytiger

That's why UP is superior to BNSF. They've actually realized the awesomeness of keeping old schemes up and kicking.

So, aside from a handful of cool looking locomotives, the remaining dull yellow fleet is "surperior" to BNSF's paint schemes?

Gotta love that beautiful UP yellow!

Ween · 09-07-2009, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazytiger

Would you mind giving me more history of these units and some pics?

The way a Rio Grande nose should look, thanks to a dedicated employee or railfan:

PhotoID: 278907
Photograph © Chris Paulhamus

The way all of them look minus the one shown above:

PhotoID: 295370
Photograph © Frank Orona

The way a Southern Pacific nose should look:

PhotoID: 53813
Photograph © William H. Davis Jr.

And the way most look today:

PhotoID: 207056
Photograph © Dave Schaaf

Awesome preservation of heritage there.

BNSF on the other hand:

PhotoID: 258575
Photograph © Chris Paulhamus

PhotoID: 252115
Photograph © Chris Paulhamus

PhotoID: 250942
Photograph © Chris Paulhamus

PhotoID: 250259
Photograph © Chris Paulhamus

Now that's more like it...virgin noses!

JimThias · 09-08-2009, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ween

The way a Southern Pacific nose should look:

PhotoID: 53813
Photograph © William H. Davis Jr.

And the way most look today:

PhotoID: 207056
Photograph © Dave Schaaf

No UP patch on this nose!

chuckman · 09-08-2009, 08:56 PM

It is really hard for me to decide as they both roster some great engines (BNSF mainly) regarding model and paint! While UP scraps SD40-2s the BNSF uses GP39s for switching duty! Just one example. However UP's heritage units and the steam program make up for whatever they lose to BNSF! All in all they are both great to railfans which is what matters to many of us here I'm sure!

Andrew Blaszczyk (2) · 09-08-2009, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazytiger

That's why UP is superior to BNSF. They've actually realized the awesomeness of keeping old schemes up and kicking.

They did it for full rights to the logos, etc. not as a tribute to their past.

TAMR159 · 09-08-2009, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckman

It is really hard for me to decide as they both roster some great engines (BNSF mainly) regarding model and paint! While UP scraps SD40-2s the BNSF uses GP39s for switching duty! Just one example. However UP's heritage units and the steam program make up for whatever they lose to BNSF! All in all they are both great to railfans which is what matters to many of us here I'm sure!

They used to...this recession has let them catch up after the railroads making up BNSF (ATSF and BN) went on their "penny-pinching spree"...hence you saw SD9s and all sorts of weird Geeps. I've noticed they've been retiring a lot of the oddballs, and storing many units aside from the widecab GEs (with the exception of the Dash 8s). To me, it seems like BNSF has been buying pretty much the same amount of power UP has (when compared to their size), but UP had better power in the barn when it came to be merger time. Or, simply put, I think BNSF will become just as "boring" as UP in terms of motive power now that they've had a chance to play catch-up.

And three photos to prove my point:

chuckman · 09-09-2009, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TAMR159

They used to...this recession has let them catch up after the railroads making up BNSF (ATSF and BN) went on their "penny-pinching spree"...hence you saw SD9s and all sorts of weird Geeps. I've noticed they've been retiring a lot of the oddballs, and storing many units aside from the widecab GEs (with the exception of the Dash 8s). To me, it seems like BNSF has been buying pretty much the same amount of power UP has (when compared to their size), but UP had better power in the barn when it came to be merger time. Or, simply put, I think BNSF will become just as "boring" as UP in terms of motive power now that they've had a chance to play catch-up.

And three photos to prove my point:

I guess I was more outa the loop that I thought!

Violet-Skies Photos · 09-10-2009, 02:41 AM

BNSF wins hands down IMHO. I, too, am from the east, but have spent time on both UP and BNSF. I always look forward to being on BNSF more than UP. BNSF has a greater variety of "common" schemes, so to speak. At any given time, you can find H1, H2, H3 and Warbonnet schemes easily, and with just a bit of searching, a visit to the yard usually, you'll find your BN and ATSF Yellowbonnets as yard power. However, UP's scheme is generically the same on all locomotives, with the exception of Heritage Units and SP/CNW units, which are becoming extremely rare. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind seeing some UP power out my way since it's not terribly common (especially after some recent changes on CSX), but if I had to choose between railfanning on two equally busy BNSF and UP mainlines, I would go BNSF all the way. And not to offend anyone in any way, but I would have to say UP is my least favorite Class I, and BNSF would be my favorite, if not tied or slightly behind CSX.