UP Locomotive Auction-San Antonio
Author: Shortline Sammie
Date: 04-03-2009 - 06:42
I attended UP auction of surplus locomotives April 2 at San Antonio which included fifty-three SD-40's of various configurations, five SW-1500's and two slugs. If you were in the market for a six-axle unit, you were in luck. Prices ranged from $33,000 for the SD-40-2R #3137 to $49,000 for the SD-40-2T #9863.
Switchers were another matter: $120,000 each for the #1069 and #1208; $125,000 for the #1136; $127,500 for the #1079 and a whopping $137,500 for the #1137.
Slugs 903 brought top dollar: #903 brought $53,000; #904 $66,500 (had flexicoil trucks) Both went to LTEX. Most all of the dealers were there as well as scrappers. Since the bidding was also available on-line, many "phantom" buyers were also there.
Oregon Pacific had interest in the two slugs mainly for the trucks and motors; however, at those prices friction bearings look better and better especially if our units don't have to be interchanged.
It was a sad sight to see the units with SP and D&RGW lettering "patched" over and a pair of new genset switchers parading around as if to say "old warriors...rest in peace"...WE CAN HANDLE IT.
Dick Samuels