Let's not all jump on the funeral car Descanso with this! Barstow is the largest locomotive and car shop on the west coast of this massive railroad. It has a lot more real estate options for storing cars and power than anything around land-locked Commerce, Watson, San Berdoo, and Portland or Seattle. There's already a pretty good fleet of 500's and 800's at Barstow next to the D Yard, all LUGO with covered stacks.

Just because these are being moved doesn't mean they're going to get cut up or traded in. I think there's a good chance they'd be pressed back into service as needs warrant- having crap power in our consist TODAY is nothing unusal, so having a 25 year old unit in our consist five years from now is very logical.

Anyone recall BNSF taking delivery of new units in the late 1990's that had primer only and/or incomplete paint jobs? I do! As economic conditions change, so does priorities of equipment utilization and lease option agreements.

Wasn't it just this past spring that the UP decided to send a whole string of SD-40's east for rebuild? Good to see you got a few pictures of the move, though!