BNSF Railway donated a historic SD70MAC to the Illinois Railway Museum. Locomotive 9400 was built in 1993 and is notable for being the first production locomotive (i.e., non-demonstrator) to feature modern AC traction, making it the precursor to thousands of units with this groundbreaking technology. 

BNSF made the donation earlier this summer, and IRM announced it on July 31. IRM plans to eventually restore the unit to its as-delivered appearance, Burlington Northern’s green and cream “Executive” livery from the early 1990s. 

Following testing of freight diesels equipped with AC traction motors in the early 1990s, BN ordered the first production run of AC motor-equipped diesels from EMD in 1993. The order, for 350 locomotives numbered 9400-9749, was built from November 1993 to mid-1996. These 4,000-horsepower locomotives were innovative not only because of their AC traction motors but also due to their radial trucks, computerized control systems, sound-deadened wide cabs, and “desktop” engineer’s control layout. Locomotive 9400 participated in a dedication ceremony at Fort Worth, Texas, in January 1994. During that event, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy E5 9911A “Silver Pilot,” on loan from IRM, was also present, representing some of EMD’s early groundbreaking diesels. 

BNSF 9400 is not the only historic diesel to have recently been acquired by IRM. Earlier this year, two former Amtrak locomotives were donated to the museum.

—Railfan & Railroad Staff