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NASA locomotives depart Kennedy Space Center
The three NASA SW1500s were originally Toledo,Peoria & Western (TPW) 303, 305 and 306. Sad to see them out of work, Hope the powers-that-be will see the value of retaining the rail infrastructure at the KSC for future use.
Definitely makes sense to just have FEC switch that trackage, especially with the port coming online soon.
Sad indeed – I have been in the Space Program for over 40 years and a lot of that time at KSC. After one mission to Mars, a local USA worker and close friend and I were traveling around KSC site seeing. He was a worker with the crane ops on the base. We went by the railroad repair location and he indicated that he knew the guys that worked there. And one of the engines was out. So we traveled by the track going north and there it came rumbling back. I was excited to see it and was taking pictures. My friend told me to pull down a dirt road and got out and flagged it down. They crew knew my friend and offered to give me a ride. I could barely control the camera! As we rumbled on down towards the VAB. Never will forget it.
It was apprpriate to keep one of the locomotives in Florida,although it can’t run. Bringing it to the Gold Coast Rail museum was a good decision.