Local Power A pair of EMD GPs soaks up the sun in McCook, Nebraska, on September 14, 2012. BNSF Railway GP39-2R 2817 was, as its distinctive carbody suggests, built as a GP30 by EMD in July 1962. It was originally owned by the Union Pacific their number 804, and was later rebuilt to a GP39M for the Burlington Northern (as BN 2817). It is coupled to leased engine EMDX GP38E 783, which began life in July 1972 as Penn Central GP38 7983 (later becoming Conrail 7983).