Railroads Should Rebuild Locomotives Than Taking T

[bnsf4737]

I heard the BNSF and other railroad are disposing their older locomotive and shipping the to the scrapper. I wi***hat would never happen. Just amagine that you are the old locomotive and the locomtive is the you and they are sending you to death. How would you feel? Hey, I'm only 15 years old. I don't like when railroad throw away their older locomotives. Why can't they rebuild them to last another 20 years. The diesel is very expensive too and they should put in a catapiller engine to save fuel. And they don't have a conditioner, why don't you install it. You want to know the answer my friend? BECAUSE OF MONEY!! I want them to live as long as they can BNSF 52 B30-7A's they're going to the scapper in Portland, OR. I live 120 miles east of portland. where i lived, BNSF predessessor Burlington sevred Goldendale, Washington (that's where i live) To me my dream is to have a fancy railroad musem and have the old locomtives that are going to the scrap yard. And have the railroad donated their locomotives. Me and my friend Charles our dream is too preserve every model that is going to the scrap like Amtrak's F40's UP's Tunnel Motors and BNSF B30-7A's. Give me your suggustion when you have the time. Thank You.

[Anonymous]

My friend if you ever had to operate a B30-7 you'd see why their going to the scrape-heap! Unreliable,vibrating,slippery(No adhesion to the rail) drafty rough riding pieces of junk! But we should save one or two for museum pieces.

[Anonymous]

The older units have problems with reliability, the business is getting stuff from point A to point B and if a units goes down some where in route they can't take care of business. Also cost, two C44-9W can replace three SD40 and use less fuel and have fewer units to service. Then there is the EPA most older units if rebuild will not meet the tier-1 standards. And a locomotive is more then just a diesel engine there are all the other parts like traction motors that will have to be replace and then you just have an old unit and for just a bit more you can have a new reliable one. I to am sad to see the GE -7s go and many SD40s too but there are a lot of SD40 out there that will run for years to come, you and me may put them in a musem, but a rail road is in the transportation business and must have the best and most reliable units to move the trains and when there time comes the C44-9Ws and SD70Ms will be replaced with new units to. And about the old units going to the scrapper, their steel will be recycled into new steel, so think of it this way old locomotive don't die they just get reincarnated into new ones.

gwl
http://photosbygreg.20m.com

[Anonymous]

The units going to the scarp line.Why dont somebody buy a few take them to an unused track or a rail siding at a fair ground and run them head on and charge a fee to watch it.They use to do it with old steam engines.I got a train wreck video that has two locomotives hitting head on.I like to see two diesels do it if they didnt have a future.

[bnsf4737]

you are aboulty right. Hey i don't have the money for that. i wi***hat all of us that believe that scraping locomotive do not exist. I wi***hat the railroads can at least donate 1 of every locomotive model that they are sending the scrap yard.Set up an organization and have the railroad donat locomotives.

[Anonymous]

As you probably know,BNSF 4737,the 4000 Class
B30-7As are no more than 20 years of age.I,too,
was surprised at that move.But I am aware that BNSF loses some flexibility with B units,perhaps that's one reason they were sold for scrap;I'm sure there are others.
Are you aware that some BNSF units are 50 years old?It's true;the 1299 Class and 3820 Class GP7s were built while Truman was in office.
Chances are they worked alongside Santa Fe's steam locomotives,and other early diesels.And the 1600 Class GP9s and 1700 Class GP9Bs were built from 1954-1957.I am so thankful that they are still around.Here in Oklahoma these veterans are alive and well.The 3820 Class GP7s are paired with yard slugs in Oklahoma City,and a couple of GP9Bs are more or less in captive service in Tulsa.And I hope they are around for years to come.
Thankfully BNSF donated their 90 Class FP45s;one of them,the class unit,is in Oklahoma City.Thank you BNSF!!
At last word BNSF 1460,an SWBLW,which is a Baldwin VO1000 with an EMD prime mover,trucks,
and a GP7 long hood was still in Topeka,Kansas.
She was built in 1943,and,while it's debatable,
she may be considered the oldest unit in the BNSF fleet(I think only the frame,fuel tank/air tanks,
and cab are leftover from Baldwin).If not,then GP7
3837 might claim the title as the oldest unit.
The 3500 Class SW1200s are still in use at various yards across the system.And then there are the 6100 Class SD9s,a handful were rebuilt into SD9-3s a few years ago,but that came to halt.
If you don't have a copy,I suggest you get the BNSF 2002 LOCOMOTIVE AND FREIGHT CAR REVIEW by Bob Del Grosso.It gives you the build dates for all the existing BNSF diesels.And I wish you the best in trying to preserve them,it needs to be done.

John Mallory

[Anonymous]

There's this thing you have to deal with when you become a grownup called insurance. The amount of money it would take to stage a train wreck like you're proposing would be exorbitant.Those staged steam engine crashes took place in a time when liability laws and safety regulations were practically nonexistent. Those events were the equivalent of action movies in their time.

[Anonymous]

I hope you are fortunate enough to earn the money to buy these locomotives and put them on display.

Railroading is a business. Why should they donate a locomotive to someone when they can sell it for scrap. Some of us own stock in these companies. I would be appalled to hear they were giving the assets away.

Why not lobby Congress to give the Railroads full credit off their taxes when they donate a locomotive.

Then, you probably wouldn't find anyone who could afford to maintain them. And you have to build track for them too. This is no small matter either. Oh yea, make the Railroads donate the track too.

Ed

[Anonymous]

Action movies are the thing today.So why not run a SD40-2 head on with a C30-7.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a question for a Hollywood producer like Jerry Bruckheimer. Get into that business,hit it big,and you can stage trainwrecks to your hearts content......
In all seriousness,nowadays it is far easier and cheaper to do those kind of movie stunts with digital effects. The film going public can't tell the difference and really doesn't care. And once again,the insurance industry and lawyers make it real hard to do live action disaster sequences on the scale they used to be done.
As a kid,I asked "Why don't they?" about many things.As an adult I've learned the answer to many of those questions:MONEY..........

[bnsf4737]

The letter was from my son and his wrote that because he hates it when the railroads dispose their old diesel locomotives. He wants to preserve them and see them running when he is still living.

[Anonymous]

Iam with your son on that one.Like to see them run also.

[Anonymous]

Whatever some of you people are on,please share it with the rest of us.I know it's hard for many to comprehend,and seems selfish and self-serving,but railroads are not unlike any other business on this planet:Can you say "profit motive"? Sure can you can.Running trains head-on? Again,please share,and if you don't get help at Charter,please get help somewhere.

[Anonymous]

Well, my friend, I too hate to see old engines scrapped. But the main reason that you see these SD-40's etc. being torched, is the way railroads aquire their fleets of motive-power. Railroads lease the locomotives, usually for 15 years, so they don't actually "own them" the big banking companies do. After the lease is up, the equipment is "fully-depreciated", and it is financially advantagious for all parties concerned, to "retire" these units, and lease new ones. Not all retired units meet the scrappers torch though, many are sold-off to "shortlines" and see another decade or so of service. As to your reference to the BN B30-7A's, I have read that some company has bought about 30 of them, to use as portable power-plants. Not sure if this scheme ever took off or not though. But I know what you are saying, I would LOVE if GP-9s still headed-up every hot-shot freight. Nothing like the sound of a "normally-aspirated-567" loading up to get 10,000 tons outta town. We should talk, E-mail me at [e-mail]

Todd C.

[Anonymous]

Well, my friend, I too hate to see old engines scrapped. But the main reason that you see these SD-40's etc. being torched, is the way railroads aquire their fleets of motive-power. Railroads lease the locomotives, usually for 15 years, so they don't actually "own them" the big banking companies do. After the lease is up, the equipment is "fully-depreciated", and it is financially advantagious for all parties concerned, to "retire" these units, and lease new ones. Not all retired units meet the scrappers torch though, many are sold-off to "shortlines" and see another decade or so of service. As to your reference to the BN B30-7A's, I have read that some company has bought about 30 of them, to use as portable power-plants. Not sure if this scheme ever took off or not though. But I know what you are saying, I would LOVE if GP-9s still headed-up every hot-shot freight. Nothing like the sound of a "normally-aspirated-567" loading up to get 10,000 tons outta town. We should talk, E-mail me at [e-mail]

Todd C.

[Anonymous]

go play with your dam straw

[Anonymous]

Now now, No need to use foul language in a public forum such as this!

[Anonymous]

Sure glad I don't have to operate that 10,000 tons with a GP-7 consist.Would take us forever to get where we're going.

[wabash1]

i dont think you could get it going. but it would bet a consist of ge's. i wonder if these people feel the same way about old cars?

[BRAKIE]

Those old GP7/9s still get the work done! I have been on a few 14,000 ton trains with 5 GP9s. They took us over the division in fine time.We didn't need a computer in order to run them.

Before you knock a GP7/9 I believe you should study up on them.You will see that those geeps was indeed the RAILROADERS LOCOMOTIVE! Go anywhere,do anything,all around locomotive.

There was 2,615 GP7s built,3,601 GP9s built.Some of these old girls are still around unrebuilt and others have been rebuilt.
Nobody thought that ***'s Dilworth's ugly ducking would be a big hit and would lasted over 50 years!

[wabash1]

i dont need to study up on them in some areas they would do just fine for yard work and local service. i just wouldnt run them in thru freight operations. and i can say this there are more older emd units out there than there is or ever will be ge units.

[Anonymous]

Yes they might get you up that hill if they keep working and not very swiftly.Believe me I have had my share of GP-9s and they were a good motor in their day but why drive a model T when you can have something faster and more confortable to ride in.

[Anonymous]

Also when its 90-100 degrees outside give me anything with air!!! You can sweat buckets if you want.

[BRAKIE]

Hey,we had AIR! 2 45s! That is 2 windows open and 45 mph! My oh my what would you have done back in the steam days? Talk about HOT! Luckly I was to young to work with the last of steam,so I will never know! I have been in steam locomotive cabs and needless to say it was hot as all get out.I guess it all boils down to different eras of railroaders.Don't you agree? I am yet to hear a old engineer say anything bad about the GP7/9.Alcos? Whole different story.Very few have kind words about the Alcos.
As far as todays locomotives all GEs look about the same as well as the newer EMDs.
Speaking as a former PRR brakeman I much perfer working with any EMD except cab units.As a ex Chessie brakeman I still perfered the EMDs over the GEs..I hated the FM H24-66.Those jewels would wear your legs out riding the steps.I still perfered the GP7/9 as the unit to work with followed by the EMD Switchers..

[Anonymous]

I'm glad your teenage(I think he said he was 15)
son has taken an interest in seeing old diesels preserved.That's a worthy cause,and we need a lot more young people in this hobby who will become the next generation of railfans.

John Mallory

[Anonymous]

Larry,I've been railroading for 26yrs and have had my share of first generation units.Just because my dad walked uphill both ways 4 miles to school doesn't mean I have to.We've come a long way in working comfort the past 10yrs or so.Heat and air conditioning that actually works,noise reduction so we don't need hearing aides when we retire,refrigerators that work and hold more than just a few bottles of water,larger and safer cabs,etc... It has nothing to do with being tough it has to do with humane working conditions.Spent my share of sitting in sidings duruing 100 degree days with every posible window door open and an inside temp. of 120,only shade to be found is on the leeward side of the train.Glad those days are long gone.Still occasionally get stuck with a SD-40-2 with no air to remind me of what it use to be like.We did it back then because we didn't have a choice.Now we do.

[BRAKIE]

While I have no doubt railroading is better today then ever before.I remember the duct tape we placed around the doors to keep out the cold wind.I haven't forgotten you had to YELL to be heard.The warm water in the water jug.The long hot waits in some siding in the middle of no where.The cold and drafty PRR N6b cabin cars(used on locals).Climbing the end ladder on a ice covered boxcar in order to release the hand brake.(now you stand on the ground and do it-much better)On the PRR we had a full 5 man crew,on the Chessie we had 4.Today you have 2,now belt packs.
We both know railroading in those days was not for the faint of heart.It was down right dangerous riding the tops of cars to relay hand signals to the engineer,swinging off and on moving cars and locomotives,carrying a air hose (no taxies or crew wagons)to the car that needed it 85 cars deep in the train,repacking a hot box,So,yes,one had to be tough to be a railroader..Now,if you don't believe a fireman was tough,try firing a steam engine across the division even with a mechanical stroker you still had some hand firing to do,never mind about the dirty coal that was mostly slate.Yes sir,Tough? Yes,one had to be tough,you had to be a little tougher in my Daddys day,tougher still in my Grandfathers day,really tough in my Great Grandfathers time.

[Anonymous]

No doubt about it those were the days that seperated the men from the boys.Remember the old heads telling me of firemen walking away from the job miles from home because they couldn't take it anymore,having to lay on the cab floor on helper engines while pushing through tunnels hoping they didn't stop.Duct tape, still carry it in my gripe,one of man-kinds greatest inventions.lol Larry you would be shocked to see the way the RR company's want their new engineers to run trains.Tell my students when I get them that I'm going to teach them the way I was taught by the old heads,many of who cut their teeth in the steam era.But still.... gratefull for the advances the industry has made in our behalf as for as creature comforts go.

[BRAKIE]

Yes,I think I understand management.We had some ARFs that would try to tell the engineer how to get a 14-16,000 ton train across the division.Usually these ARFs was promoted from non train service jobs.
Know and understand I am not taking anything away from you railroaders today.Your just as tough as we where.You face the same dangers we did.Of course you know the hardships of being a railroader.As I always said not everybody is cut out to be a railroad man.A youing man that leaves a 40 hour a week job with holidays and week ends off learns real fast this does not happen in train service.You know the routine.
I would not trade my 9 1/2 years experence for anything-I loved the work.Of course I have not railroaded since 1984.I still miss it.

[Anonymous]

This is a great thread with all of the first hand reports from folks who have operated locomotives. Any one have good things to say about cab units?
Ralph