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[Trainmaster.Curt]

I am wondering what diesels would be considered on their last legs these days. As a fan of GMD1's i already know they are first-generation, and the fact that they are still running on CN is amazing. In Winnipeg, the only Alco/MLW diesels are the GWWD's that i know of? CEMR has 4 GP9rm's, and in Morris the SMNR has an M420 still running? Please let me know what diesels you consider rare photo shots, thank you.[|)]

[wctransfer]

SD45s, F45s, straight SD40s (NOT DASH 2s!) and ofcourse, straight GP30's and GP35s.

Alec

[Trainmaster.Curt]

Yeah a straight SD40 is a rare site these days. Never really seen many GP30's/35's in Canada much. GP38's are still around, mostly on CPR branches.

[PBenham]

Well, ALL SD90MACs with the H block engine and All of the AC6000s, because engine technology just can't produce a railroad size 6000 net HP power plant that will work in a North American Locomotive. And, because they are orphans near the end of their inital lease to Conrail, all of the SD80s.

[vvtdeb]

NOBODY can say with ANY certanty about ANY locomotive being as "on last legs" in todays world and markets. The way that Companies REBUILD and RE-ENGINE locomotives with such ease and small expense, an engine could theoretically last indefinetly. Seriously. Might I draw your attention to the hundreds of STEAM LOCOMOTIVES that are STILL in use EVERYDAY at places like Steam Town and Historical sites around the Country?! I KNOW we're talking diesels, but just to show you the example, Steam was way BEFORE the diesels, and THEY are STILL running on TODAY's rails?! My personal opinion; I'd wager that if a kind-hearted Chief Operating Officer of a Railroad Company WANTS to keep his old diesels "alive", they will. If you bring in some un-caring, bottom-line, cost-containment type of individual into the Company and give him Authority, they will rebuild the OLD before they buy something NEW?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vvtdeb

NOBODY can say with ANY certanty about ANY locomotive being as "on last legs" in todays world and markets. The way that Companies REBUILD and RE-ENGINE locomotives with such ease and small expense, an engine could theoretically last indefinetly. Seriously. Might I draw your attention to the hundreds of STEAM LOCOMOTIVES that are STILL in use EVERYDAY at places like Steam Town and Historical sites around the Country?! I KNOW we're talking diesels, but just to show you the example, Steam was way BEFORE the diesels, and THEY are STILL running on TODAY's rails?! My personal opinion; I'd wager that if a kind-hearted Chief Operating Officer of a Railroad Company WANTS to keep his old diesels "alive", they will. If you bring in some un-caring, bottom-line, cost-containment type of individual into the Company and give him Authority, they will rebuild the OLD before they buy something NEW?

Yes, some steam engines are still being operated, but not a single one is cost effective, they are all operating at a loss. Not only are steam engines very costly in the first place, if all the parts are 50 years old its that much harder. Also, your comment on diesels is incorrect. Just as with steam, if the parts are older its harder to maintain, yes there are a few old GP9s and SD9s on the class ones, but they repersent only a fraction of the total production, most have been scraped. Why, because even if you replace the engine, other parts of the engine are still old, the body, chassie, trucks, the cost to replace these part is much more than just buying a better, more powerful engine.

[SD60MAC9500]

The diesel in a 1980 Ford F-100 old 8 cylinder naturally aspirated...

[Anonymous]

Don't forget to add the SD40T-2 and SD45T-2 (tunnel motors). Once plentiful on the SP and D&RG, they are dwindling quite rapidly now on the UP..

[james saunders]

SW1, S1 the GE 44,70, and especially the 132 tonner diesels

[vsmith]

1981 VW Rabbit Diesel?

OK...F-40 Amtrack vintage, FP-45 not many of them around, GP9 still a few working shortlines, even seen some very old SP and UP SWs shoving cars around the southland.

[trainboyH16-44]

I think it's safe to say that any pre-1980 GE, any ALCo, F-M, Baldwin, or Lima engine is endangered...

[kevikens]

As a type of engine I would say any of the switchers. Railroads increasing use road engines to do the work that use to be done by switchers.

[METRO]

Anything by Baldwin or Fairbanks, if they're not totally gone already, surely.

I spent a good part of my reasearch last year on finding surviving low long hood ALCo RS series and they are getting very very hard to find in freight service.

When I considder a locomotive endangered though, I think of it in regards to revinue service, there are quite a few EMD F7As in the protective hands of museums, foundations and such but last I knew (and I'm sure someone will correct me on this) they are extinct out on the road.

Another line that is probably going to go the way of the dodo soon is the GE Universal line, those engines were largely headaches to railroads and have been dissapearing ever since the Dash-7 came out.

Cheers!
~METRO

[Trainmaster.Curt]

Too bad i did'nt live in the early 70's when light-rail branch diesels were still common. I would of loved to see a RSC-24 in action

[Anonymous]

Any CSX locomotives other than new locos and AC4400CW's, C44-9W's, and Dash-8 40C(W)'s can be considered toast within the next few years. It sickens me.


Matt