Shamelessly snipped verbatim from TrainOrders.com:

"The Lake State Railway in Michigan is planning to scrap former D&M alco RS-2u #469 in the next few weeks. 469 is a very significant unit because it was one of the original RS-2s built (from the D&M's first diesel order in 1946) and until recently, was the last RS-2 still operating anywhere in the United States. The shop forces at Lake State have realized this, and want to save the unit. However, the lowest price possible for the unit is $20,000 and the scrap value is $40,000. If anyone here is involved in a preservation group, or an organization who needs a locomotive, and has the needed funds. Contact Lake States IMMEDIATELY! Don't let this rare piece of history become razor blades!
Contact list for LSRC: http://www.lsrc.com/index-8.html
Photo of 469: http://www.railroadfan.com/gallery/albu ... 27/469.JPG

Gregg Pullano
East Lansing, MI"

Oct. 2006 Trains has an article on this loco. The photos show it DOES have roller bearings--meaning if some Alcohaulic wants it, it can be shipped to them. The only other RS2 I can find preserved is Nevada Northern's, although my notes in my Second Diesel Spotter's Guide shows Kennecott Copper 722 preserved by the Promontory Chapter NRHS ages ago--same one?

I appreciate the raw dollar figures attached to this TrainOrders post--hard figures to chase away the dreamers.

Its not quite the last operating RS 2. Our locomotive 105 is an RS-2 and is still in operation. Two of the RS-2 from here still exist one in Campo and one in Portorla.

The 722 that you refer to was our 101 and that has been scrapped.

Out of curiousity sake does anyone know why its being scrapped?

I can't say for certain, but last I knew/heard, the Lake States was in a state of somewhat serious retreat from the more remote stretches of track it operated, probably due to lack of traffic. I will forever kick myself for not turning around at the sight of a headlight to our north from the overpass of I-75 south of Gaylord, Michigan in 2004 on track that is now out of service, and I *know* i was looking at some Alco! (I had my excuses--my new wife and I were en route from one honeymoon hotel to another....) It's possible that the railroad simply can't afford to keep those unused assets on the roster, and it's the accountant telling them a "conversion" is the smartest move. Heck, at least (according to the TrainOrders post) they offered the possibility of acquisition below scrap value--usually they want more than scrap value for anything that can move on its own, thank you.

Ideally it should go to a Michigan museum. Question is, which ones are suitable and can any of them act fast? And can funding be put together somehow?

Gee! An operating (?) locomotive for about the price of a new Chevy Malibu! I wonder if GMAC would make a loan and set up monthly payments? Probably not, it is not an EMD product.

Bob Kutella, agreeing preservation needs more help

Does anyone know about this engine?

D&H 4020
White Pigeon, MI
#977
Active
Ex LI RR 1572, then 1520, ex D&M, then to Morris Leasing. Now owned by a scrap company?

This is THE last D&H RS-2 in this country if she's still around.

Joshua

Joshua -

Tom Travis and I photographed this engine at White Pigeon about 2000 heading up a long string of hoppers loaded with stone. She had "Morris Leasing" under her cab windows and "MORRIS Stone Division" on her long hoods. Painted black with white lettering and yellow frame/handrails/steps, she was in absolutely beautiful condition. We stopped by White Pigeon several years later after Mr. Morris had died and found the 977 inside the shop building there. I tried to find out about seeing if the now idle Alco might have been available because she sure would have been nice at our museum, but I was never able to make any contacts with anyone. Not sure if she is at a scrap company today or not, but I hope that she eventually ends up preserved somewhere.

Les Beckman (Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum/North Judson, Indiana)

Don't underestimate the ability to finance the purchase of a locomotive with the help of a credit card! No, I'm not joking -- I have a little personal experience with this. Almost everyday, my mailbox contains at least one or more applications for a new credit card. Most contain the typical introductory perks to get you to sign on -- free balance transfer, 0% APR for X amount of months, high credit limit, etc. Use that card until the end of the introductory period, then open another one up with the same introductory perks, transfer the remaining balance and keep on going. What you really need however is someone with the guts to sign themselves up to be put on the hook financially for the thing, and then said person or persons capable and committed to pay down the debt quickly.

As I said, I have a little experience with this, so it can be done. However as I type this, I realize that it was 5 years ago when interest rates were very low and the economy was not in the toilet. Its a risk either way, but maybe too much of a risk today(?) It is a possible solution for getting cash quick before the locomotive gets cut.

RE: ATK's experience with putting a loco "on plastic"-- the unit in he's referring to has appeared on this website; a sympathetic seller helps in these sorts of things, too. In 2005, RMNE purchased a B&M RS-3 that had wound up in Michigan (coincidence?) from another "sympathetic" seller, who was willing to finance the purchase. After a down payment, the B&M unit moved back to New England, and a group of 10 or so RMNE members contributed $100 per month each to cover the monthly payments until the debt was retired. Just like GMAC, eh? No, the B&M RS-3 is not the loco ATK is referring to; that one is not an Alco.

Perhaps a similar "equipment trust" could be put together among interested parties in the area. If the railroad is not willing to "hold the note", perhaps an individual might be willing to be the bank.

Think creatively; the railroad seems willing to let it go for a reasonable price. There's an opportunity here.

Howard P.
Monthly Statement, CT

As LIRR 1520, she was paired with sister 1519 every Friday evening, at the head of the "Shelter Island Express", a Parlor/coach train to Greenport on the north fork. Oddly, during the week she regularly pulled freights. At one time in their LIRR careers, both these RS2's wore wide, blue bands, over the gray carbodies. These were the only RS2's on the LIRR. Another sister locomotive suffered a fire shortly after arrival and went back to D&H.

In speaking with the owner of the Lake State about 2 weeks ago about purchasing another locomotive from them. He explained all thier new E.M.D.'s were coming on line and were replacing the Alco's 2 and in some case's 3 to 1.
The customer I was talking on behalf of love's alco's, his T-6 (Formerly Michingan southern) is at our shop for paint now. I have pictures of all the Alco's at White Pidgen from the week before christmas. An RS 2 or 3 is for sale there in running condition as well.
I sent him the information but haven't got a chance to ask him if he would be interested in it.

The 977 is alive & well! Here's a photo from Sept. 2007:

I wonder if the 977 is up for sale, as the website I found the photo on has other possibilities!
http://www.railroadmichigan.com/pioneer.html

This is an unverified internet rumor, but I've heard that they've had a change of management and the new management decided to run the Alcos until they need something that would go beyond minor repairs and then replace them with second generation EMDs.

Someone mentioned other Alco units besides the RS-2 on the property, and reputedly available. What of the RS-11 (heritage, et al)?