Transfering locomotives

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

I have noticed that the companies own several short lines will from time to time transfer locomotives from one short line to another. I always assumed this was because one had a surplus of locomotives and another did not have enough.

However, I have noticed something odd with San Joaquin Valley Railroad (owned by RailAmerica). Sometime in the past couple of years they transfered SJVR 1754 out. According to some internet sites, it went to SDIY then to San Pedro & Southwestern Railroad. I also suspect that 1751 and 1755 might have been transfered elsewhere. In 2003 two GP20s (2035 and 2041) wrecked and burned. During this same time frame SJVR received two GP15-1s from CFNR (107 and 110), one GP38 from CORP (3829) and is leasing three GP38-3s from CEFX (3029, 3034, and 3048).

This leads to a question. Why would RA transfer locomotives to SJVR at the same time that they are transfering locomotives out? Why do they not make the transfer directly from CFNR and CORP to the other railroads? Do they want more reliable locomotives on certain railroads while others do not need that degree of reliabllity? All of the locomotive transfers I am aware of are to the south, do they do this to expedite the process? Is there some other reason?

2

some of the locomotives might have issues that need to be repaired at a location other then at the roads shops…and it might also be that the locomotives being shiped out where leased units whos lease had expired and where being sent back to the leaser…
csx engineer

3

The lease could be the case for 1751 and 1755 (which might still be with SJVR, I don’t know). I forgot to say these are GP9s. Are locomotives this old usually owned or leased? But if the information on the internet about 1754 is correct it is still operated by an RailAmerica property. Does anyone know if SDIY or SPSW have better shop facilities than SJVR or if SJVR has better shop facilities than CFNR and CORP? Or, did they send a locomotive to some third party shop and that caused the shuffle?

4

San Joqauin Valley Railroad and San Diego and Imperial Valley are owned by RailAmerica. San Pedro and Southwestern used to be but was sold.

5

I have found out that SJVR 1751, 1755, and 1761 were sold to Western Rail Incorporated (a locomotive dealer). SJVR 1751 and 1755 were subsequently sold to the Great Smokey Mountains Railroad. SJVR 1761 was sold to Lake County Railroad.