BNGX 8002

Unit first seen at UP's Dolton, IL yard on its way to the Railway Supply Institute's Rail Technology Exhibition in Sept. 2008. This is the first 1GS7B single engine genset locomotive seen out of NRE. According to NRE's specs, it uses a single Cummins QSK-19 genset, for a 700hp rating.

When displayed at the Railway Supply Institute's Rail Technology Exhibition in Sept. 2008, the unit did not have any blue card information or builder's plate information other than an original build date of 1953, and the outshop info from Mt. Vernon. It is apparently built on the frame of a retired EMD SW-type locomotive, but the exact hertiage is unknown. Thanks to Ken Lanovich for finding what little data was available. Build date is a guess based on the NREX 2020, which was outshopped around the same time.

Bunge North America is part of a massive global agribusiness company with plants along the Mississippi River and elsewhere. The company has also recently delved into biofuels as well. It is not yet known where this locomotive will go into service.

Reported by Eric A. that the unit is headed for the former Lauhoff Grain mill in Danville, IL. According to reports, Bunge has three more units order, to be delivered to Morristown, IN; Council Bluffs, IA; and Cairo, IL sometime over the next year. This info is confirmed by a press release from Bunge.

After the RSI exhibition, BNGX 8002 was delivered briefly to Bunge in Danville, then shipped to the Crane Naval Base in Crane, IN for demonstration in Oct.-Nov. 2008. Once the demonstration was completed, the unit was sent back to Dixmoor for installation of R/C equipment. Thanks to Ken Lanovich for this information.