Western Railroad Discussion > Montana Rail Link surplus

https://surplus.montanarail.com/surplus-catalog/
One of the GP7's ex CGW/cnw 4337.

Hopefully someone wants to save the former CGW GP9 unit as it looks to be in good shape.   Ideally someone could restore it some day as there aren't too many operable former CGW units out there.  

I think the MRL has their history wrong on the SW1500 units numbers 51 and 52.   They are listing them as former Northern Pacific units and I don't believe the NP ever had SW1500's.  

Thanks for sharing the link with us here.  

The SW1500's may be ex Great Northern units as they have Flexicoil trucks. The Frisco and bought new by BN motors did NOT have flexicoil but AAR. They could be ex SP/SSW as well. I didn't look that well to see if the light package remains could be detected.

Milwaukee Wrote:
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> Hopefully someone wants to save the former CGW GP9
> unit as it looks to be in good shape.   Ideally
> someone could restore it some day as there aren't
> too many operable former CGW units out there.  
>
> I think the MRL has their history wrong on the
> SW1500 units numbers 51 and 52.   They are
> listing them as former Northern Pacific units and
> I don't believe the NP ever had SW1500's.  
>
> Thanks for sharing the link with us here.  

MRL 51 and 52 are ex-Inland Steel 119 and 122, respectively. They were given flexi-coil trucks prior to being delivered to MRL in 1995.
Dave in Missoula

Type A switcher trucks and Flexicoil trucks are very interchangable.

Is this the end of SD35s on MRL?

Posted from Android

PHall Wrote:
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> Type A switcher trucks and Flexicoil trucks are
> very interchangable.

I actually saw a BN SW1500 operating with one Type A truck and one Flexicoil truck proving your point.  Strange sight and I wish I had a photo of it as I've not seen any such photos posted before.  

I like the downloadable schematic drawings of the freight cars for sale

Milwaukee Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> PHall Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Type A switcher trucks and Flexicoil trucks are
> > very interchangable.
>
> I actually saw a BN SW1500 operating with one Type
> A truck and one Flexicoil truck proving your
> point.  Strange sight and I wish I had a photo of
> it as I've not seen any such photos posted before.
>  

I think one of the old Diesel Spotter's Guides had a picture of a unit like that too.

BN even had a SW1000 with solid bearing trucks under it they were AAR think it was a Burlington unit?  Ran onto a picture of it the model was a SW1000 know it was diffrent some what than a 1500 but had roller bearings under it at one time then the solid bearing trucks installed.

MC6853 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Is this the end of SD35s on MRL?
>
> Posted from Android

yep, it’s the end of the SD35 era and quite possibly the SD45 era as well. 346 and 355 got a reprieve last month being reactivated for helped service. SD35 #705 was also reactivated to pull some kind of special, most likely it has gone back into storage. I expect the arrival of the 4 rebuilt SD70ACe’s coming this fall will be the final nail in the coffin for these old gals. Would love to see a few of the old gals continue in service elsewhere, the SD35’s are equipped with a Q-from microprocessor package which should make them look attractive to the right shortline or industrial operation.

Bryan Jones
Brooks, KY
Bryan's Train Photos

junctiontower Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Milwaukee Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > PHall Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Type A switcher trucks and Flexicoil trucks
> are
> > > very interchangable.
> >
> > I actually saw a BN SW1500 operating with one
> Type
> > A truck and one Flexicoil truck proving your
> > point.  Strange sight and I wish I had a photo
> of
> > it as I've not seen any such photos posted
> before.
> >  
>
> I think one of the old Diesel Spotter's Guides had
> a picture of a unit like that too.

K&IT had two #70 and I believe #71 that operated for some time with one Type A and one Flexicoil truck.  After Southern takeover, trucks were matched on these units.  I have some photos but don't have time now to find them.
ALLEN
ALLEN

redneckrailfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> MC6853 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Is this the end of SD35s on MRL?
> >
> > Posted from Android
>
> yep, it’s the end of the SD35 era and quite
> possibly the SD45 era as well. 346 and 355 got a
> reprieve last month being reactivated for helped
> service. SD35 #705 was also reactivated to pull
> some kind of special, most likely it has gone back
> into storage. I expect the arrival of the 4
> rebuilt SD70ACe’s coming this fall will be the
> final nail in the coffin for these old gals. Would
> love to see a few of the old gals continue in
> service elsewhere, the SD35’s are equipped with
> a Q-from microprocessor package which should make
> them look attractive to the right shortline or
> industrial operation.

Might be of interest to NYS&W

redneckrailfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> MC6853 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Is this the end of SD35s on MRL?
> >
> > Posted from Android
>
> yep, it’s the end of the SD35 era and quite
> possibly the SD45 era as well. 346 and 355 got a
> reprieve last month being reactivated for helped
> service. SD35 #705 was also reactivated to pull
> some kind of special, most likely it has gone back
> into storage. I expect the arrival of the 4
> rebuilt SD70ACe’s coming this fall will be the
> final nail in the coffin for these old gals. Would
> love to see a few of the old gals continue in
> service elsewhere, the SD35’s are equipped with
> a Q-from microprocessor package which should make
> them look attractive to the right shortline or
> industrial operation.

I would think that the 567 prime movers might be a non-starter for some potential customers.  Probably not a big deal for a small operation, but most larger operations have standardized on 645's and might not want to go backwards.

redneckrailfan Wrote:
>>and quite possibly the SD45 era as well. 346 and 355 got a reprieve last month>>

These two still work the Livingston Helpers, as of Aug15.

SD35 705 is still in service on the special train for a few more weeks.
Dave in Missoula

redneckrailfan Wrote:
- Would
> love to see a few of the old gals continue in
> service elsewhere, the SD35’s are equipped with
> a Q-from microprocessor package which should make
> them look attractive to the right shortline or
> industrial operation.


1 of the SD35s has shown up in Vancouver BC on the other Washington Group railroad, the SRY Rail Link.