How badlly damaged does a locomotive have to be until it is sent to the scrap yard. any pics of wrecked locomotives would also be great.
Posted by Chuck Walsh (Member # 677) on :
Don't forget obsolescent. An retired diesel. Better yet a beater of a steamer.
Posted by Sir Ray (Member # 1441) on :
Check around the web for images from Naparano's, a large Newark salvage yard which has scrapped many locomotives (and freight cars) over the years.
As a side note, cosmetic damage does not necessarily mean unusable, while fatal damage may be hidden: Locos can operate with missing engine compartment doors, and bent sheet metal (although how much damage is allowed is probably controlled by the FRA), while a bent frame, worn-out prime mover, or fried traction motors can often mean a trip to the scrapper.