Update on the train:

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that six cars of the former Minnesota Zephyr dinner train were loaded onto flat cars for the San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad in Alamosa, Colo.:

http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_ ... d-colorado

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mndrummer74/8573886482/in/photostream/lightbox/

The cars are on the move. Are the F units part of the deal?

Were the two locos ever scrapped?

#787: Spokane, Portland & Seattle 804 (BN 716)


Minnesota Zephyr by NVJ, on Flickr

No

Well good. That leaves open the chance for the SP&S loco to make it back to Washington State one day. Sounds like a good project for Mr. weekendrailroader. :^)

If I remember correctly....The trainset was sold to Iowa pacific, I would assume they took the locos as well, since Ed seems to have a real desire to collect a bunch of E's and F's....

Just remember this, people...long after the hamburger and french fry money is spent you are still out two F-Units. Once cut, they are gone forever...period! I'm still seriously bent about Espee 4450 last spring. And this was a museum that did the deed...same as St. Louis with their RS1 and FM switcher. You'd think they'd be safe in a museum...but .......
naaaahhhh! Saving stuff may not be the easiest thing in the world, but if you don't, there will be nothing left....there's always someone who can't wait to line their pockets with scrap money. Hamburgers and french fries anyone ! ! !

You can't save them all. In a perfect world it might be nice to, but in reality, you can't. When the rail connection to the outside world was lost, these two most likely fell off the fence on the "not gonna make it" side. From what I hear there were issues when the attempt was made to move these by road which might tend to make it unlikely to be attempted again. Unless these two have some great significance to someone with some creativity and resources, they are most likely going to locomotive heaven and the best that can be hoped for is some parts removal before they go.

Wish the situation was different, but....

ETA

While the future of MNZX F7A #787 (ex-COE #716, exx-C&LC #716, exxx-BN #716, exxxx-BN #9756, nee-SP&S #804) is uncertain, if not already sealed, another SP&S covered wagon is preserved.

SP&S F3A #802 (BN #9752, later #972551) in SP&S Yellow & Green is on display above Washington State Route 14 at the Columbia Gorge Interpretation Center in Stevenson. Picture: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2801544 (Paul Ginochio photo)

I am tired of the "we can't preserve everything" mentality hovering around the MNZ F-units. It is high time the rail preservation community saves everything it can and forget the naysaying.

Tony, as I reflect on my comments in light of your post, I think you're right and I had it messed up. Since the project obviously speaks to you, why don't you do something about it?

Its quite easy really, here's what you do. Grab your checkbook, go meet with the owner, pay for the units. Call a reputable locomotive company/contractor, disassemble into transportable size/weight pieces, get a crane and load em up, truck them to your railroad (you do have a railroad or at least a secure siding, right?), and put 'em back together. Simple.

...and its a good investment. When you're tired of them in a few years, the world will beat a path to your door to purchase them from you for what you've invested plus a reasonable mark up.

Let us know how you make out.

ETA

I can talk to my friends in the shortline industry, but questionable F7As do not top their locomotive wish list.

Does anyone have a reasonable guess for what condition they are in internally? How many man-hours would it take to get them FRA compliant? Not including cosmetic work.



Or he could start talking to friends with power, or get together a group just to preserve these two engines, or, or, or: the possibilities are endless for solutions, belittling Tony does not help prevent the locomotives from being scrapped. Prompt, favorable, and truthful answers to my above questions might.

The reality is that if we truly try to save everything we end up saving nothing, because we will have spread our resources so thin that no specific effort has the critical mass of resources necessary to make it happen. We need to triage, share, and make the best decisions we can instead of watching our "preserved" artifacts slowly scrap themselves while we foam.

dave

Not belittling Tony, merely suggesting he put his money where his mouth is rather than lecturing the rest of the world on how we ought to save it all/spend our time and money.

ETA

I'm not denying that. I just don't think criticizing the person is the best solution; who knows, he may actually save the locomotives.



You have a point, I just thought the way you made it was a little over the top, admittedly, I'm not a fan of using sarcasm unless you are face to face.