***I am not affiliated with Dieselmotive, Pioneer Railcorp, or the Keokuk Junction in any way. I'm just a railfan who is observing what's going on.***

The Keokuk Junction Railway, owned by Pioneer Railcorp, has sold several locomotives that were in storage at La Harpe, Illinois to the Dieselmotive Company of Turlock, California. Several of the locomotives that were sold have been scrapped in La Harpe by a contractor over the past few days. Here is what I know so far:

KJRY GP8 No. 471 (former IC 8971) - Scrapped
PREX RS3m No. 102 (former CNJ 1549) - Scrapped
PREX GP20u No. 3069 (former ATSF 3069) - Scrapped
PREX GP20u No. 2041 (former ATSF 2041) - Scrapped
PREX NW2 No. 100 (former SLSF 265) - Scrapped
PREX SW1200RS No. 1298 (former CN ?) - Scrapped
PREX SW1200RS No. 1357 (former CN ?) - To be scrapped (already scrapped?)
PREX SW1200RS No. 1352 (former CN ?) - To be relocated to Dieselmotive for rebuild
PREX FP9A No. 1751 (former CN 6506) - To be relocated to Dieselmotive for rebuild
PREX FP9A No. 1754 (former CN 6525) - To be relocated to Dieselmotive for rebuild

I'm not sure if any effort was made to find the units that were scrapped new homes. I'm particularly upset about the CNJ RS3m, but alas, not everything can be saved. Does anyone know if parts were salvaged by any preservation groups?

Thomas

I think the third FP9A, 1752? ...I think they had three....Was leased to the tourist operation in St.Mary's GA....
Not sure, but it may have been bought by Diesel motive as well before being leased....

Pioneer Railcorp is gone. The company is now known as Pioneer Lines.

I believe the RS3m suffered severe mechanical damage due to vandalism when it was assigned to Cairo, Illinois in the early 2000s. The traction motor leads were cut by vandals. It is a shame this locomotive could not be displayed somewhere. I believe this was Pioneer's first locomotive.

The NW2 reportedly had water leaks in the block. This engine was assigned to the West Michigan Railroad for many years and during most of its time there it never ran and sat on the end of a spur track behind a warehouse.

The KJRY GP8 was reportedly a wiring nightmare.

Either way most of these locomotives were lack of a better word, junk. A lot of these engines served as part sources until the end. Great to see the FP9As are going to a good home!



Yes, 1752 has BUGX reporting marks. It was leased earlier this year to the Ohio River Scenic Railway and then was moved to the Georgia Coastal Railway.