Port of Tillamook Bay 3771's (possible) relationship to Grand Trunk Western 5629?

Trains Magazine General Discussion
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Ok, you probably have read the title and may think, “E2, what are you talking about?”. And so here is what I found and am going to ask you guys to know if this is true or not.

So if you guys know Port of Tillamook Bay 3771, you know, the GP9E that was formerly known as Southern Pacific 3771, yes that unit, here’s these pictures here of its SP and POTB look:

Credit: Drew Jacksich (Link: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SP_South_near_vernalius_(29125615812).jpg)
Credit: Drew Jacksich (Link: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SP_South_near_vernalius_(29125615812).jpg)1280×827 143 KB

Credit: Drew Jacksich (Link: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SP_South_near_vernalius_(29125615812).jpg)
Credit: Tristan G (Link: https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3019328)
Credit: Tristan G (Link: https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3019328)1024×768 97.1 KB

Credit: Tristan G (Link: https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3019328)

From we all know is that the unit was scrapped in 2010, but I’m not sure on what month or day of 2010 it was scrapped, not even a single photo of its scrapping was shown.

But… That’s not the reason I’m posting this however…

I somehow came across this post on Altamont Press and this source on trainorders.com, that it was claimed by a person that they didn’t want the 3771 scrapped.

“The last engine to be cut up was the 3771. (ex SP) I talked to the owner of the company who scrapped the engines and he did not want the 3771 to be cut up. But he could not find a buyer for it.” -Shannon, Trainorders.com

And that’s what makes GP9E 3771 have a possible connection to GTW K-4a 5629, because that locomotive got scrapped despite some people not wanting it scrapped in the first place, same could apply here with this unit: POTB GP9E 3771.

Here’s my source on what I’m talking about:

I’m surprised how no news articles or train-related books mention about the 3771’s scrapping, probably because they could have reduced 3771’s scrapping to “well, it’s just a random diesel locomotive scrapping, so it’s irrelevant”, rather than digging further into the scrapping.

Let me know what you think of this post, do you think that it’s true? or do you think it’s false? Because I’m genuinely curious, and this could be something to document rather than just sweeping it under the rug.

Thanks!
-LB&SCR E2

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What makes #3771 so important to you? It’s just another GP9. The #5629 was in an entirely different category. Almost all steam had been scrapped by then and it was owned by someone who (IIRC) couldn’t afford to preserve it but was too obstinate to let someone who could, have it.

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If you spend any time in the archives over at RyPN, the history of preservation is rife with stories about locomotives slated for preservation that ultimately disappeared. The stories regarding B&O EM-1s and the true high-speed Canadian Jubilees are particularly poignant, as is some of the lore surrounding CNJ 774.

In my not so humble opinion 5632 was a far greater tragedy than 5629.

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When I saw that statement that someone didn’t want the 3771 scrapped, I thought of it as, “Oh my god, this is a 5632 or 5629 case of the GP9”, and that is what makes this case what I think is disturbing. I don’t know who gets the blame for causing 3771’s scrapping in the first place.

Would that allegation be pointed at:
a. The unnamed owner that didn’t want 3771 scrapped?
b. POTB
c. Tillamook Air Museum
d. The storm that killed off the POTB

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Sure, but they don’t mention SP 3771/POTB 3771.

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You still haven’t made a case for its preservation. What was its significance? Are there local groups with the financial and preservation skills to save it? Who would come to see it? Does it fill a need/want that hasn’t already been filled?

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The situation was very clear to me. 3771 was a perfectly-serviceable GP9E, whose owner wanted to see preserved. Apparently the owner could find no buyer for the engine at any price, and for reasons unstated in this thread he did not choose to store it (preserved or unpreserved) on his property, or elsewhere at his expense.

There was said to be an effort to find a home for the engine, but as so often happens … nothing happened. I would not be surprised to find a specific discussion on RyPN, but I’m not motivated to look. Presumably the more resalable components like the TMs and power assemblies were salvaged.

8

Chill dude, calm down, don’t have to be that aggressive.

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So, the unnamed owner of 3771 is the one to be blamed here. Right? Or were he struggling and that’s why 3771 got cut up? Because I’m confused on who is to blame here for 3771’s scrapping.

Was he desperate to save the 3771 and really didn’t want it scrapped but felt upset after he lost the 3771? was he very comfortable with giving up the unit for his own benefits?

Also, does anyone know the name of this private owner of 3771. Because I could perform a bit of research to see if he’s regarded as infamous or not.

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I am chill. Those were very reasonable questions.

Maybe nobody is to blame.

That sounds like borderline stalking.

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How is it stalking to perform a bit of research on someone to see if they have had any criminal activity or controversy considered stalking?

I’m not here to start drama, I’m just curious, I would like to know because I’m not sure if this private owner of 3771 has had any other controversies with other people, or was just a good businessman with no controversy.
I’ll say this again, I’m just curious.

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I will make some follow-up posts about the 3771, as I have started a google doc titled “POTB 3771: Scrapping Tragedy Explained”. The link will be shown once it is completed.

13

Looking for “criminal activity” or if someone is “infamous” because someone let a locomotive get scrapped? That’s rich. Maybe you should’ve offered to buy it?

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Sounds like drama to me.

Sounds like he held off on scrapping the old engine to see if someone would step up with a checkbook. Happened many times to many engines. What makes this one any more special?

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Yes what is so special about 3771?

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This case of it being scrapped due to poor timing, that is what makes it well known as far as I’m aware.

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The POTB had a history of washouts, and a catastrophic one in 2007 caused the line to be severed and abandoned. Was the subject engine at the isolated end of the line where it would have been landlocked and might not have been practical to remove?

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Probably not, I’m not sure, there’s very limited pictures as far as I can dig into for where 3771 was, but it was indeed scrapped at the Tillamook Air Museum.

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Well, I’m being truthful right now, because all I’m doing is trying to investigate if this claim is something that is worth discussing or if it’s just a small myth/rumor made as clickbait. I’m trying to search for answers, and making sure I don’t spread false information.

But they haven’t had a statement from someone on the internet that their owner didn’t want the locomotive scrapped in the first place.

This case of it being scrapped due to poor timing, that is what makes it well known as far as I’m aware.

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The Tillamook Air Museum is at the isolated end of the severed line, so the engine was landlocked, which probably sealed its fate.

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