What are the specific criteria other than when a locomotive is wrecked an is beyond repair., does a railroad retire a locomotve?
Ira
Once a locomotive has been fully depreciated, which I believe is 15 years under GAAP, a decision is made whether a capital rebuild is justified. If it is not, failure of a major component may force retirement or if the market for scrap metal or used locomotives is good, it may be retired and sold.
Also, the typical locomotive lease expires at 15 years. Usually the locomotives are either purchased or given up at this time, which is why so many BN SD40-2s went to leasing units.
It also depends on the locomotive’s reliability, design life, usefulness, and fuel economy.
The specific criteria vary from railroad to railroad and from time to time.
Short answer is when its not economically justified to keep the unit on the roster. Takes in operating costs, replacement costs, reliability and demand.
CN GP9s and GMD1’s are pushing 65 years old. They must be good locomotives to survive that long at a cost conscious carrier like CN.