Western Railroad Discussion > Union Pacific Purge of Gensets via Auction

Union Pacific has hired Blackmon Auctions to supervise a sell off of its RP20GE fleet of genset locomotives.
Railpower built 98 of this model in 2007 for the  UP.  The auction is being held Nov. 9 at Metro East Industries
in E. St. Louis, IL.  By clicking on "online bidding" at the following site they list a total of 85 locomotives which 
we can probably assume is the entire remaining fleet:
https://blackmonauctions.com/project/union-pacific-locomotive-auction/

Modesto & Empire Traction(CA) was the only other significant buyer of this model with nine units.  RJ Corman
purchased Railpower after that firms bankruptcy.

So these are only the Railpower Gensets and not the NRE units too?

Railpower PR20GE units only (UPY 2602 series). The NRE units (UPY 2700 series) are not up for sale. At least not yet.

It's the right season to buy turkeys! === === = === JLH

It would be interesting to see if they go anywhere but a scrapper.

Would these gensets be suitable power for various shortlines?   The shortlines usually have a mechanic who keeps track of the units and keeps them up and running.  

Sounds like the purchase price would also be favorable.  

I every instance I saw around the Houston Area they replaced older power (on jobs needing only one unit) with two or three of these. So, sure each one produced less emission's, but when you have to trade one for two or three? Well, you know . . .

RailNet802, owevaaaaaah
 

There are still some of the NRE units active in the SoCal basin.   Usually 2 working the local yard just west of RedOdo jct.  Remote with a 2 man crew.

BTW....Seems the Torrance and El Segundo Locals are now working out of East Yard.  Last week it was SD-70's on the Elsie, and GP-60's  on the torrance.

MEKoch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Would these gensets be suitable power for various
> shortlines?   The shortlines usually have a
> mechanic who keeps track of the units and keeps
> them up and running.  
>
> Sounds like the purchase price would also be
> favorable.  

MAYBE ... if you could pick up a few of them CHEAP... more than anything short lines need DEPENDABLE power...we wouldn't want to hire a TRUCK mechanic to follow one around in a hyrailer to keep one running!

Dick Samuels
Oregon Pacific Railcorp

Keep the frame, cab, trucks and traction motors. Bolt on the prime mover, main generator/alternator, control circuits, cooling apparatus and carbody of your choice and you can build a gold plated switch engine or local unit. Screams of another government financed project.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/20/18 09:30 by fbe.

The only good Gensets are the dead Gensets

Given that Gensets have proved to be a catastrophe. . . . 

Just why didn't they work?? 

Dependability?? 

Or was it the electronics controlling the diesels just wasn't up to switching them around and starting them up as the need arose?? 

Inquiring minds want to know!!
 

They were called junksets by the crews.

kk5ol Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I every instance I saw around the Houston Area
> they replaced older power (on jobs needing only
> one unit) with two or three of these. So, sure
> each one produced less emission's, but when you
> have to trade one for two or three? Well, you know
> . . .
>
> RailNet802, owevaaaaaah
>  

Probably many happy railroaders hearing this news!

I always questioned the Genset idea. Let's maintain three prime movers instead of one. What could go wrong?

TJY

How dare you question the logic of a product which was the result of a California idea!

Out

Probably more of a case of "this idea looks great on paper" and doesn't have a clue about railroading.

EMDSW-1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> > Sounds like the purchase price would also be
> > favorable.  
>
> MAYBE ... if you could pick up a few of them
> CHEAP... more than anything short lines need
> DEPENDABLE power...we wouldn't want to hire a
> TRUCK mechanic to follow one around in a hyrailer
> to keep one running!
>
> Dick Samuels
> Oregon Pacific Railcorp

Come on, Dick. You don't have one in your collection yet.

Keith

I am a Purdue guy..we learned this: ..don't send a whimp to do a man's job. 

True story about GE's. My older brother and I, in separate conversations with GE people, received the same answer. GE people started out on submarines, then went to locomotives. Afterward, they were sent to work on jet engines. The crews always complained about the small access doors on GE's, and who, in their right mind, would design stuff that way!

spwolfmtn Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Probably more of a case of "this idea looks great
> on paper" and doesn't have a clue about
> railroading.

There isn't much aftermarket demand for GE -7 locomotives or components. The Deutz power plants cement their oddball status.