Older MRL locomotives sold

[RoadRailer]

Montana Rail Link had several of their older locomotives up for sale/lease for most of last year including the F45s and SD45-2, etc.

The good news is they decided to save the F45s for later, but 24 locomotives were sold to one buyer (per LocoNotes).

6 SD45-2 #313-304-302-303-312-310 were enroute to the Portland area Friday and I was able to catch them on the PASLYD:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/archiveThumbs.aspx?id=64617

They are reportedly headed to a scrapper and were transferred by UP to Albina on Saturday (per Yahoo MRL group).

 

[Abilene Ks Railfan]

So sad to see SD45-2's being scrapped

 

[April]

Anyone in the know on who the original owners of those SD45-2's are?

April

 

[RoadRailer]

SCL (313), CRR(302-304), SP(314) and ATSF(310)

 

[CSX 700]

Anyone in the know on who the original owners of those SD45-2's are?

April

MRL #301-308 were former Clinchfield, #309-312 former ATSF and #313 former Seaboard Coast Line.

Bryan Jones
Brooks, KY

 

[Tower 55]

With the new NRE GenSet model coming out, 2GS36C, I dont know why any railroad would want to scrap their SD45-2s.

 

[FR8TRNZ]

You think someone would snap them up, but then again we live in a throw it away lets buy new economy.
It would be nice to see these used on a leased company or a class 2 railroad for another 10 years or so.
I wonder how much scrap price is for a complete Locomotive, compared to what they were asking last year.

 

[April]

You think someone would snap them up, but then again we live in a throw it away lets buy new economy.
It would be nice to see these used on a leased company or a class 2 railroad for another 10 years or so.
I wonder how much scrap price is for a complete Locomotive, compared to what they were asking last year.

Well, some parts of these locos are closing in on 40 years.



April

 

[Bruce Butler]

On a happier note, ex MRL SD45 375 is in daily service on EWG's 108 mile line between Cheney WA and Coulee City WA. 375 is doing well and even gets an occasional sprint down the BNSF mainline to the Templin elevator near Ritzville WA when a scoot train runs there to unload. 375 is a good unit and it's extended range dynamic brakes are much appreciated when working heavy trains. 375 has been with EWG since the start of operations in 2007. 375 has quite a lineage, built 01/1968 (makes it 43 years old last month). Ordered by the Pennsylvania, but delivered as Penn Central 6233. Served Conrail, then became CNW 6556, then NRE 6556, and finally MRL 375. Sold to NIWX in 2007 and leased to EWG.

375 and GP7 1617 get along together just fine and have even been on the point of the last couple of 100+ car co-load grain trains!

Here are some recent pictures:

1) 11/16/2010 - 1617 & 375 are mid-train helpers on a co-load train east of Creston WA near MP 61

2) 11/23/2010 - 375 at the Central Washington Grain Growers elevator in Coulee City WA

3) 11/24/2010 - 375 & SD40T-2R 2891 at Cement WA

4) 2/2/2011 - 375 & WRIX 324 (GP35) with some steel loads for the Geiger Spur

View attachment 111917View attachment 111918View attachment 111919View attachment 111920

 

[flint creek mp23]

375 is doing well and even gets an occasional sprint down the BNSF mainline

I wish the ex-MRL 8924 and 8925 had worked out just as well for EWG.

Brent

 

[SDP45]

Bruce,
Did the 8924 finally go away? I knew the 8925 is gone due to a bad clutch, and the 8924 always seemed to be low on water.

That said, I got a peek at the 3043. Too bad its not one of those MRL units.

 

[Bruce Butler]

Did the 8924 finally go away?

8924 is currently out of service at Davenport. It has taken to popping the low oil trip of the governor for no apparent reason. Has plenty of oil, oil pressure is good, etc. While it is out of service the 324 (GP35) and 3043 (GP20) will be filling in.

On the last eastbound co-load train we had 108 loads. 375 and 1617 were on the point and the 3043, 324, and 2891 were back 52 cars. We went up deep creek hill without a hitch.

I wish the ex-MRL 8924 and 8925 had worked out just as well for EWG.
Brent

Both 8924 and 8925 did give several years of excellent service to EWG. 8925 was retired because the turbo clutch failed and the cost of repairs was more than the unit was worth! If 8924 can be repaired (see above) for a reasonable cost it will be retained. If not, it will also be replaced.

The 2891 underwent a major rebuild at N. Little Rock shops in 1999. We have observed that it pulls almost the same tonnage as the SD45's and burns less fuel in doing so.

 

[Bruce Butler]

8924 fixed

Good News! SD45 8924 has been fixed and is back in service on EWG. One more SD45 not quite ready for the scrappers.

 

[BN Oly]

Are there any 20 cylinder's left active on MRL these days?

 

[SDP45]

It would be nice to see an up to date MRL roster. Seems they got rid of a bunch of early geeps recently too.

 

[CSX 700]

Are there any 20 cylinder's left active on MRL these days?

yes, they still have quite a few 20 cylinder units on the active roster. Most of these are former SD45's rebuilt to DASH 2 specs, though the pair of SD45-2's painted in the "new" scheme as well as the #332 (ex SDP45) still remain. They still own and roster 2 F45's, but both are stored out of service. An easy way to look at it is that anything between #300-399 on the MRL is powered by a 20-645.

Bryan Jones
Brooks,KY

 

[Paul@MWR]

It would be nice to see an up to date MRL roster. Seems they got rid of a bunch of early geeps recently too.

There is an accurate roster available on the MRL list on YahooGroups. It is in the files section and includes the history of each unit too including where it went off roster.

 

[SDP45]

Paul,
Thats a good idea.