Former Amtrak SDP40F saved
PORTLAND, Ore. - Burlington Northern Santa Fe SDF40-2 cowl unit 6976, which began life as Amtrak SDP40F 644 in the 1970’s, has been saved from the scrapper by Northwest Rail Museum in Portland. The unit became one of 18 such swapped in 1984 by Amtrak to BNSF predecessor Santa Fe for a couple dozen CF7’s and EMD SW-series switchers.
The unit is perhaps best known for being one of two painted in Maersk blue in late 2002 (the other was a Norfolk Southern SD40-2) for the official opening of the new Maersk container loading and unloading facility at the Port of Los Angeles.
The unit was stored until recently in Illinois. After a deal was brokered by Northwest Rail Museum, the unit now is in transit to Portland. Chris Fussell, who helped save Amtrak F40 231, was one of the principal parties in this transaction.
