WC SD45 #7495 is back in service for now....

[coborn35]

From ORERAIL:
It is my understanding is that the Lake Superior Railroad Museum (the place myself, Kale and James work/volunteer at) has a
"disposition hold" on WC SD45 7495 should CN take it out of service
soon. This is the last ex-NP SD45 still working on CN and the museum
would like to add it to its collection. The LSRM, given its healthy
collection of equipment from the NP and Missabe, could be considered
the official rail museum for those two railroads.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=146716

 

The only problem with this, is of course, fuel cost, re painting, storage room, etc. We may lease it out to help it repay for itself if we do indeed get it. Of course, CN wil strip it of everything: horn, bell, numberboards, seats, lights, etc, so there will be some work to do.

[EJE818]

Good to hear the WC SD45s are coming back into service. Hopefully they will have a better future the the IC&E SD45s, one of which is being scrapped.

[wctransfer]

Well from what I was told is that when they ousted Burkhardt, that they pretty much ran the remainder of the years looking to sell it. Burkhardt never wanted to sell the railroad, thats why if he would have stayed there was a good possibility that the WC would still be around.

Alec

[coborn35]

14 to be exact, a life cut short because of Burkhardts ousting....

Alec

EXACTLY!

They knew they were screwed after they shoved Burkhardt out. He is a very nice man to talk to, very personable.

It was a smart move though, as without Burk. they probably wouldnt have lasted very long alone anyway. 

[wctransfer]

14 to be exact, a life cut short because of Burkhardts ousting....

Alec

[Lord Atmo]

i'm for the idea now that i know the SD45 actually is ex-NP. built as NP too. we have a GN SD45. we may as well get an NP SD45 too. i would hope the 400 will be at the NP unit's "unveiling". what a photo op, that will be!

[coborn35]

Yes maybe, but you see as far as railroads go, NP was around for 100+ years, and WC was around for around 15.....

[NSlover92]

I am not a WC fan or NP here is what i think, I think that it should be returned to NP paint for one reason and one reason only NP engines can not be found in service anywhere but you can still see WC engines, now maybe a little down the line when WC is completly gone maybe it should be repainted to WC paint. Thats just my opinion.

[GTW4914]

Glad to see those SD45's are back in service. I live up here in saginaw,mich. I can remember the first time i saw WC SD45's up here it was about 1995 they were in the 6000 series in the CSX engine terminal, they are probably retired or were renumberd into the 7000's. I took pictures i will have to find them and get the numbers.

[wctransfer]

Yes, about 13 or 14 are back in service, including the 7495.

 Alec

[GTW4914]

The SD45's were of wisconsin central heritage.

[GTW4914]

I was down to markam yard and or woodcrest shops memorial day weekend and thanksgiving week. That was last year 2006 memorial day weekend there was about a dozen SD45's and a few straitSD40's of CN heritage went back thanksgiving week and they were gone. only about four BCrail units and a couple of derilicked looking GMD1's of CN heritage.

[GTW4914]

I now one thing i am going to miss the sound of those 20 cylinder beasts grinding up byron hill in sets of three and four unit lashups.

[coborn35]

Some are now back in service.

[ShopsYardMaster]

You should have seen them when they first arrived on the WC...talk about "rent-a-wrecks"...