Are there any EMD GP50s being sold off to regionals and shortlines in any significant numbers? I know Ft. Worth & Western has at least one, as I've seen pictures of it. Given their age, seems like the Class 1s would be turning them loose by now. Looks to me like they would be decent units for some of the larger regionals, especially ones that have some intermodal traffic (FEC, etc.).
Good question. Given their performance records they might be getting sold. They were over rated and had some problems, though most RR's managed to overcome there short comings and use them for a long time. The only issue I see with carriers getting rid of any 4 axle units is nobody makes them new anymore (except for Gensets and the like). Some RR's are rebuilding 4 axle locos to keep them around for a few more years. Some BNSF 4 axle units are on the 2-3 major rebuild now. Some industries and trackage will not handle 6 axle units, so they about gotta keep some of them around.. I guess the question is can they get rid of the GP50's and still have enough other 4 axle units to cover the assignments interesting to ponder.
That is true, the railroads are going to have to make sure they've got enough GPs to last them for quite a few years into the future. Makes you wonder if someone is going to HAVE to offer another 4-axle later on down the road again. I guess the rebuild programs are always a good way....but I wonder how many times a unit can be rebuilt before, as we say on the farm, it's "shot" lol. As for GP50s, I have sort of a weird fascination with them. Not sure why, as it's not that much different looking than a late GP40-2. Maybe it's because there's just not as many of them out there as the other models. I've read that the railroad men never really cared for them....from over stressed prime movers and wheel slip issues if I remember correctly. I've heard that a lot of the SD50s problems were remedied by derating them to around 3,000-3,100hp. I assume a regional line could have a pretty decent locomotive out of the GP50 if they did the same.
There have been a very few GP50s on shortlines though off the top of my head I can't think of any. Most of the class 1 fleets have been rebuilt into a more standardized unit. Such as GP38 or GP39. As for new 4axle units. EMD'GP22ECO and GP33ECO are for all intents and purposes new units. It is going be exceedingly hard to fit tier 4 certified prime movers on a 4axle frame and the sales numbers will be low. On the other hand, companies like Brookville and EMD with the aforementioned ECO are trying.
The Portland & Western doesn't have any GP50's that I'm aware of. The P&W bought a bunch of GP39's from the Santa Fe a few years ago. Most are now painted in P&W orange with black stripes. I did see a BNSF GP50 at Willbridge Yard in Portland switching cars. I guess their day of first place in the motive power fleet is over.
I like them. They may not be good on the road, but for locals, road switchers and yard jobs they are hard to beat by another four axle. The recent rebuilt geeps from NRE are about as gutless as the gensets. I understand the reasoning behind rebuilding older geeps, but if they could just leave the GP50s as-is I'd be happy.
An always present fate, Mr. SP. No matter how great, interesting, or handsome of a locomotive, there's always something coming along to bump them down or make them look terrible. The Santa Fe's Super Fleet GEs, GP60Ms, and SD75s were some of the best looking units to ever hit the rails in my opinion....but just look at them now
Of all the EMD GP's I have had the pleasure of engineering, the GP60's were the pinnacle. Man those things loaded up right now, and would wrinkle the rails under them to move tonnage, they were a pleasure to have 4-5 of them on a auto-rack train, boy, they were goin Jessies.
Standard cab GP60s seem to have good service state indeed. However I've read here and there that GP60Ms (initially ordered by ATSF only as far as I know) have a rough ride that cause them to be really disliked by crewmembers. BTW, as far as I know BNSF's remaining GP60Ms are now only used for local and switching jobs... Dom
