P&W GP40 locos for sale?

Three P&W GP40 locos are listed for sale on an equipment broker's website: two ready to go to work at $170,000 each, and one broken one at $110,000.

Any word on why P&W is dumping the GP40s?

My understanding is they are fuel guzzelers. That is why they always rent them out.

Do they have any plans to purchase new/ newer locos to replace them?

Those are surprisingly reasonable prices, considering recent market trends for four-axle locomotives.

PW 3001: http://www.ozarkmountainrailcar.com/gp402_3001.htm

PW 3002: http://www.ozarkmountainrailcar.com/gp402_3002.htm

PW 3003: http://www.ozarkmountainrailcar.com/gp401_3003.htm

The 3000's never had cab signals installed in them so they cannot go out on the corridor. They spent most of their time on the Worcester loacls or on Pan Am coal trains to Mt Tom.

I would not be surprised if they were shopping for something new.. when they have coal and ethanol moving they need extra motors..



Rich B

Just read on another forum that they are looking at 6 newer GE wide nose for power.

Alcoman wrote:Just read on another forum that they are looking at 6 newer GE wide nose for power.

As in bought new or the ex-ATSF GEs being sold? And what forum is this?

atsf sp wrote:As in bought new or the ex-ATSF GEs being sold? And what forum is this?

It was on LocoNotes. They mentioned BNSF B40-8Ws. It's just an unsubstantiated rumor at this point.

Think PAR will buy these GP40s? They're still strapped for power, and GP40's are their favorite.

I wondered that myself, but the price (reasonable though it is) may still be too rich for their blood. They seem to be on an SD40-2 kick now, and perhaps have finally realized that there's something to be said for using the six-packs on the mains and using the geeps on the branches and in the yards.

But aren't six-packs more expensive than Geeps?

No. That used to be the case, but in the past 10 years it has reversed as demand for 4-axle units has exceeded supply. PAR paid only $100K each for the KCS SD40-2s.

...and the rule of thumb is -- or was -- that two six-axles would haul the same as three four-axles. As long as (BIG caveat alert, considering the company) the power is effectively maintained, it's cheaper to run duets or trios of sixes than trios, quartets, or quintets, and especially sextets of fours because of reduced fuel, lube, and power brake shoe consumption.

I was railfanning with my daughter down at Union Station and 3001 came up the grade with 9 freight cars about an hour or so ago....looked and sounded fine...

Which one is the broken one?