While running errands in Sherman, TX, I passed by the Texas Northeastern/Dallas, Garland & Northeastern office, and noticed that one of three locomotives stored dead there was being scrapped. The unit is/was Georgia & Alabama GP7R 2077, which started life in September 1952 as Santa Fe 2761, # 16988. It was rebuilt by Cleburne in August 1974 and renimbered 2077, retired and sold to RailTex (date unknown), leased to GAAB as their 2077. It arrived on DGNO property in Sherman January 1999, and was stored unservicable. So far, only the cab, short hood and part of the frame remains- the prime mover has been taken out & set aside, and the rest of the frame is sitting on a low-boy truck. Two other units are at Sherman, and may share the same fate soon: TNER GP9M 25, blt. Feb 1958 as GN 903 using parts from a wrecked FT (1350 HP output), # 17459. Rebuilt by BN, upgraded to 1750 HP, chopnosed, renumbered 1353. Sold to RailTex 1992, leased to Texas Northeastern. Out of service. DGNO GP7R 2014, built Oct. 1952 as Santa Fe 99, later 2899. Rebuilt @ Cleburne July 1981, renumbered ATSF 2013. Retired, sold to RailTex, leased to DGNO c. 1992, renumbered to 2014 by DGNO to resolve a number conflict. The 2014 is missing all the doors from the left side of the long hood, and it looked like someone was working on removing the handrails on the 25. Surely these two survivors will have any & all useful parts removed before being scrapped. However, I'm not too sure if they're next on the chopping block. I'll let ya know in the next few days.
Well, the 2077 and 2014 are both history. All that's left of them are the 16-567 prime movers, which were set off to one side to allow for dismantling. There are also some axles with traction motors laying about, but absolutely no sign of these two ex-Santa Fe GP7Rs. The GP9 (25) I mentioned earlier is still intact, but I seriously doubt it'll run again on DGNO, and may leave dead-in-train for another shortline, since RailAmerica prefers their EMD power to have 645 prime movers. What impressed me was the speed in which it took the salvage crew to scrap both of these locomotives, but I'm sure since both were stored unservicable, there were parts being removed from time to time. Has anybody heard of any other RA properties scrapping old diesels on-site lately?
