Hill AFB

[RailVet]

The base newspaper at Hill AFB, UT, reports the base railway has closed as of May 6, 2011. See:

http://www.hilltoptimes.com/gallery/final-run

The base operated two USAF SW8s (2000 and 2007), previously assigned to Cape Canaveral AFS, FL. Captions say the locomotives will be moved to Davis-Monthan AFB in AZ; however, I believe this is unlikely. DMAFB has the famous "boneyard" for retired aircraft, but rail equipment is not sent there. In fact, DMAFB's base railway was abandoned and torn up years ago. It's more likely the locomotives will be excessed via a DMAFB-based regional DRMO office.

The Army locomotive maintenance shop, a tenant activity on the base, is not effected by the closure of the base utility rail operation; however, an Army news story from March 12, 2009, notes a transfer of the shop from Hill AFB to Tooele Army Depot under consideration. See:

http://www.army.mil/article/18164/offic ... -hill-afb/

If the shop moves, it would be the end of rail activity at Hill AFB.

[RailVet]

USAF 2000 and 2007 have been repainted in current Army locomotive colors (Transportation Corps red with yellow letters) and relettered back to US Army. They've been photographed heading east, reportedly on CSX, with trucks removed and mounted on flat cars. Destination is unknown at this point. Does anyone know where they're going? Most remaining SW8s were phased out of the Army inventory about 20 years ago, with only two remaining at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD (gone in 2005) and one at Fort Sill (gone to the Oklahoma Railway Museum). Both received modern Army paint schemes featuring TC colors, not their original 1951 paint scheme, which makes it unlikely they are going anywhere for historic display. Very curious indeed!

[RailVet]

Received word today that both locomotives are headed to Blue Grass Army Depot near Richmond, KY. With 40 miles of track, the depot is currently served by four GE 80-ton locomotives.

[RailVet]

Hill AFB's Baldwin S12 and GE 80-ton, long retired, are up for sale:

http://www.govliquidation.com/events?cm ... ldwin-S-12" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;