Rumor has it the City of Skykomish no longer wants this "eyesore" in town, the ex-Great Northern SD9 #599, one of only two dynamic brake equipped SD9's the GN owned. Mostly used in the Northwest all it's life, it was saved by the BNSF scrapper's torch as a historical piece of equipment to be donated to a worthy cause. BNSF donated it to the City of Sky, even towed it up there from Tukwila, Wa free of charge. It made it into former GN Omaha Orange and Pullman Green, but the plug was pulled before it could be finished. Sad....
Another example of "One man's junk (eye sore) may be another man's treasure (history)". Some people would have torn down the pyramids!! I have a problem lately with people who don't appreciate "old stuff".......might be because I am "old stuff" LOL!! Jim
sad , but a another great example of how a piece of history that every model railroader and rail fan would love to see and clime on is just sitting . someone has to step up , hopefully a rail museum or short line RR will adopt , and restore this SD9 to it's glory .
It was nice to sit in the engineer's seat, insert my brass reverser key in it, and daydream I was running a long freight over Stevens Pass!!!
If their objection is it's condition - you suppose a work crew and some city-donated paint would fix it? I know, it's a big project, but .. ?
Well the word came down-BNSF is to cut her up on the spot in the next couple days, she has come to the end of the line. No one showed interest in this only one of two dynamic brake equipped SD9's the Great Northern owned. The City of Skykomish just saw it as an eyesore instead of a historic piece to the history of the town. Sad ending for a "Great" locomotive product of EMD.
At least she departs with some GN dignity, not suffering vandalism in the form of graffiti, smashed glass and a ruined cab interior like some other donated locomotives have. Maybe her steel will find way into a new locomotive or new rail.
According to google the town has a population of less than a thousand people.....Probably more a matter of money than sentiment or interest. Jim
