The "BEEP" to be Retired

survivingworldsteam · **Posted:** Wed Feb 04, 2009 12:02 pm

This was posted to the RailSpot group on Yahoo. Besides being "news", it brought up an interesting preservation issue; especially in the last sentence.

Quote:

The "BEEP" to be Retired
Posted by: "ralphrback"

BNSF will formally retire BNSF 1460, the "BEEP" .
Here is my photo of ATSF SWBLW 2450 in Houston while leased to the PTRA.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=269916
<http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=269916>
Ralph Back

Re: The "BEEP" to be Retired
Posted by: "acornillie"
Mon Feb 2, 2009 3:36 pm (PST)
This locomotive was generally assigned to Santa Fe's shops at Cleburne
and Kansas. Over the years is had received maybe four or five numbers
had some modifications made since it's 1970 rebuild namely changes to
the window arrangement and having remote control added. This engine
is also significant for a number of reasons:

It was the prototype for the CF7 program and it is the last of a wide
variety of EMD repowered (from Alco, Baldwin, FM, Lima, etc) first
generation locomotives in service on a class one railroad with that
one the last first generation engines to be repowered during the 60's
and 70's. In many respects this marks the era for what was a very
diverse and colorful period of diverse repowered locomotives. This
engine started what is no doubt a very successful series of Santa Fe
rebuilds of EMD and GE second generation power that has meant that has
kept all kinds of power from GP7s up in active service (and depending
on the model have a good reputation among several railroad CMOs).

This is an important engine that has to be preserved, however the
economic climate (even before September) makes the acquisition of new
equipment by museums also impossible. In general very few repowered
locomotives have been preserved because of the false assumption that
they aren't historic where in reality they tell an important story of
how railroads try to address the problems of what were unreliable
locomotives and are also valuable examples of the work of railroad
shops or builders like EMD.

-Andrew Cornillie

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Wed Feb 04, 2009 2:12 pm

The cynic in me asks:

Considering that I thought this loco had been retired 20 years ago (which shows how much it stayed out of the limelight, relatively speaking), would we even be paying any attention to this relic now if it hadn't managed to have an oh-so-cutesy nickname applied to it?

Should it be preserved? I agree with the argument made for it, but VERY few places have the breadth of scope to include this and the ones that do are outside this loco's turf (IRM, NRM Green Bay, St. Louis), and the places in its home territory (Kansas City, for example) aren't really the best place to show it in proper context.

Having said that, does anyone want to swap a derelict excess CF7 for it? They'd get a functional(?) loco that's more historic, and BNSF would get scrap metal value.....

survivingworldsteam · **Posted:** Wed Feb 04, 2009 2:23 pm

Alexander D. Mitchell IV wrote:

Should it be preserved? I agree with the argument made for it, but VERY few places have the breadth of scope to include this and the ones that do are outside this loco's turf (IRM, NRM Green Bay, St. Louis), and the places in its home territory (Kansas City, for example) aren't really the best place to show it in proper context.

As of resident of said city; I don't see it happening; but a logical place would be stuffed and mounted in front of the former Santa Fe Cleburne shops (now Gunnerson Railcar); or by the Amtrak Station not far away in Cleburne. It would tell an important chapter in the relationship between the city and Santa Fe; like a steam locomotive, however, it would have to be covered and well fenced to keep it from going to pot from the elements and vandals.

EDIT: there was talk of moving the steam locomotive currently in the park, and the caboose at the museum together to a central location; under cover, I think. It would seem logical; and incrementally not that expensive; to include this engine as well.

Mike LaBouliere · **Posted:** Wed Feb 04, 2009 4:14 pm

I think it would fit in nicely at the Midland Railway in Baldwin City KS. Also home to another "oddball" MKT 142. It would be on former Santa Fe trackage and they have a physical connection with BNSF.