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BN 7158

BN 7158 was part of a large order of SD40-2's delivered in early 1979 and all went directly into coal train service. A 1993 BN Annual shows the 7158 being assigned to Alliance, NE that year. In looking through my photos I can't find any of the BN 7158, at least no roster shots. But I am guessing it is possible the 7158 came west at some point with a loaded coal train.

At the BNSF merger in 1995 the 7158 was relettered for BNSF but kept the same number and BN paint scheme. Years later, what was left of the SD40-2 fleet was bumped down to yard service. With new BNSF GE ES44DC's being delivered in the 7200 series the older SD40-2's in the 7000 series had to be renumbered. The 7158 was renumbered BNSF 1979 in November of 2009. For yard service the SD40-2's are now classed as SD39-2's but it appears there have been no modifications done inside or out to change anything. Just a new designation. On a recent trip to Pasco, WA I caught the BNSF 1979 working as a yard trimmer seen here with BNSF 1873 on 5-9-10 still looking very much like an SD40-2.

Now 31 years old the former BN 7158 no longer pulls coal trains but at least it still wears the same paint scheme it was delivered in and works a much less demanding job.