Want to buy a Baldwin?

[yellowdog]

Government Liquidators is putting a 1952 Baldwin switcher up for auction starting tomorrow. It is located in Clearfield, UT.

http://www.govliquidation.com/auction/v ... 12973_8700" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Description:
1952 Baldwin-Westinghouse, Diesel Electric Locomotive, Model# SL2-1200, Const.# 75714, Powered by 1200 horsepower, four-stroke turbocharged Baldwin Diesel Engine Model# 606-A turning a Westinghouse generator Type 480FZ, and Style: 1612171, S/N 14-s-22g258, Diesel fuel, Odometer reads 43,710, Hours: 156.9, on tracks, locomotive starts, GVWR: 120 ton, 56.5 gauge; AAR type A trucks, 0-4-4-0, wheel arrangement., USN registration number, 65-00374, USAF serial number 1864,Spec mill# MIL-L-10587(tc), Contract# DA86-022-tc-6241. Buyer is responsible for loading and removal. Must schedule one week in advance. (given weight, permits and special trailers may be called for). All previews and load outs by appointment.


So who needs a switcher?

[NorthWest]

Appears that the unit still has friction bearing trucks, so probably would go by flatcar, assuming the auction site is connected to the national network. If not, the cost of moving something like this usually exceeds the purchase price.

[yellowdog]

Almost 16 hours in and the bidding is only at $1,280.

Come on.

Doesn't anyone have a college fund they could raid or a second or third mortgage they could take out on their house??

[NorthWest]

Current bidding is at $20,500, which is roughly scrap value (not sure the current prices).

[NorthWest]

Bidding has finished. Now the big questions are who bought it, and what is its future? Hopefully preservation.

[yellowdog]

For anyone who missed last year's auction, here is another opportunity to have your own Baldwin locomotive.

The Western Pacific Railroad Museum has declared a number of items in their collection as surplus. Among them is:

*Oregon & North Western #4 (AS-616) with an asking price of $16,000. They list the overall condition as "good." Locomotive last operated on WPRM property in fall 1996, the engine is reported to be in good condition (24RL brake stand has some freeze damage and leaks) and was considered a candidate for operational restoration. This locomotive is equipped with plain bearing (friction bearing) trucks and cannot be interchanged on its own wheels. It would need to move by truck or flatcar.

*NVR #51 (DS-4-4-660) with an asking price of $8,000. Overall condition is only "fair." Traction motors 1 and 4 are ruined, but can run on 2 and 3. Opinion is that the engine could be made to run with limited work.

Check it out on: http://wplives.org/surplus.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So who's game for this?