If somebody desperately wants an F40, start passing the hat now and maybe you can get one from Caltrain once the Peninsula electrification is finished.

Or.. How 'bout buy 'em all, turn them into NPCU's (aka "cabbages") for use on state/corridor intercity passenger trains, AMTRAK, Brightline, et al.

It's an interesting question whether a unit as heavily modified as a "cabbage" is really preserved, given how much it would take to return it to its original configuration. A similar question exists with heavily modified F's and E's in business train service, such as those BN made into an "F38" and an "E38" now at IRM. I would argue that the four ex-AT&SF PAs rebuilt in the 1970s with 251s are preserved, but perhaps that is because they are so rare that the work to restore them as close as possible to original is worth it.

Interesting thing about the PA-4 locomotives is that both of the people who were the principal forces in the PA-4 project (for D&H and MK) have been around and accessible through recent years. But so are a few people who were involved in the F40PH project.

PC

A friend who inspected the MBTA auctioned F40PH locomotives commented that in his opinion only two of these units had any reasonable (economic) possibility of being returned to service.

PC

No word yet on how the auction went. Wonder if they actually sold?

DS

What ones were thoes?
As for how the auction went there was a $35,000 reserve and 5,000 byers fee so...

Don't know.

Ozark Mountain Railcar lists 13 of the 15 F40's sold. No other info as to the buyer or what two units did not sell.

Don't see that anywhere.

I know of several organizations that were planning on bidding, but have not heard whether any of them were successful. Most did not have any plans of restoration to operation, they were interested in them for the value of machinery core parts for rebuilding, and for the EMD swing hanger trucks.

PC

I know someone connected with a tourist railroad who would like to get a F40, but adamantly NOT a former commuter one, because of the stop-and-go nature of commuter operations. It's the difference between a used car that was mostly driven long-distances on the highway, and one mostly driven in town. So, either one from Amtrak or VIA, but not MBTA or similar.

It was in their email/newsletter thing they send out every couple of weeks

See attached:



But anyway these locomotives were pretty clapped out, and ran hard in commuter service during their lives. didn’t see the stipulations on the auction. I just don’t know if it would even be economically feasible to restore one to run for a tourist line then the upkeep and fuel bill with that. The no dynamics was also kind of a deal killer

While the buyer of the 13 units is still unknown, the ID for the two others is now known. Listed for sale ($30,000 each) on Ozark's Mountain Railcars webpage: 1008 & 1013.

Just an FYI, but the 1013 was the only F40PH-2 of the group to be painted in a "reverse" paint scheme - Cranberry or maroon body with a silver mid-body stripe.

DS

Taking steps to get the information about who bought them and for how much.