Announcement

**brakie** · 09-22-2002, 02:02 AM

Thanks David for sharing the picture with us.

Yes,it is sad whenever a old work horse like the GP7/9 is scrapped.Dick Dilworths ugly duckling was a great hit with the railroads even though Mr Dilworth designed it for use on branch lines and never intended it to be use as a all round locomotive.

From a lowly yard unit to a passenger unit the GP7/9 could be found proudly going about it's assigned tasks.I suspect that Mr.Dilworth would be pleased to know after 50 years alot of his"ugly ducklings" is still doing the work that he and EMD intended them to do.I read in Trains magazine one time that the GP7/9 was the favorite and perfered locomotives used by short lines.

For those of you that never worked with these units I can assure you they was indeed work horses.I will never forget riding the cabs and listening to those 567s digging into the tonnage of a mine run going up a grade...

Larry

C&O FOR PROGRESS!

**CSXFAN** · 09-22-2002, 10:08 AM

You know that is a sad ending for such a once powerful piece of equipment. But just think of all the engines of roadnames that fell to this fate and the name has never been seen on tracks ever again!! I think of all the things that get me the most, it's that! Everything is absorbed by bigger and richer and heritage has little to do with anything. In most cases!! Not all!! But they are always remembered in some form or fashion by a passionate few!!

Randy

**Bucks_Owin** · 09-22-2002, 11:07 AM

You're right Randy, it's sad when a line like the once mighty Espee finally falls after 128 yrs. It's hard to understand how a place as rich in history as the Sacramento shops could be gobbled up by developers instead of preserved as a historic site. Like you said, we modelers will always keep the memory alive in miniature, but that is a distant second place compared to preserving the heritage of this country in 1:1 scale! The railroads built this country, and I wish more people could remember that.......

**rush2ny** · 09-22-2002, 01:33 PM

Here is another such pic though this time an Alco. However, there is good news. This FA lost it's life but it was for a good cause. The trucks were used to save an even rarer Alco, an RS11!

**CSXFAN** · 09-23-2002, 01:00 PM

I agree 100% bucks!! And in the chase for the all mighty dollar, nothing is sacred anymore! I for one have always hated change and i know it is inescapable!! But that doesn't mean i have to like it!! I would have liked to have been around at railroadings exciting days when it was depended on by just about everyone!!!!!!i know modelling can't replace it, but it comes as close as we can get!!!

Randy

Announcement

Death

Death

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment