Today on 'weird choices by the power desk': putting three locomotives originally built for fast intermodal service on a coal drag. BNSF 8514 is one of 20 "SD70ACe-P4" testbeds built by EMD as their answer to the GE ES44C4, sporting a B1-1B arrangement (similar to the ES44C4's A1A-A1A arrangement, except the non-powered axles are next to the fuel tank, as opposed to the middle of the truck). They never really caught on, unlike their GE counterparts, but the units remain in service to this day. For some reason, BNSF's power desk decided that the best option for this train would be to pair up one of these oddballs with two ET44C4s... which also sport only four traction motors per unit! Needless to say, this train was not performing very well climbing Mullan Pass - also considering yet another ET44C4 was shoving on the rear!
