I put my money on it becoming an installation at Burning Man.
Ask HN: What would you do with a 130 ton locomotive?
11–20 of 49 posts
Re: Ask HN: What would you do with a 130 ton locomotive?
#12> Locomotive engine must be disabled per a state grant funding agreement. What a dumb requirement. It's like the cash-for-clunkers program requiring the engines to be destroyed. The service life of a locomotive is effectively infinite - even after their useful freight days are done, they usually get refitted and sent to the developing world, or converted into a fixed power generator.
> What a dumb requirement.
Wonder how "disabled" it has to be?
Or maybe it could be transferred to another organization that might meet the requirements of the state?
Maybe something like roaring camp railroad, or niles canyon.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roaring_Camp_%26_Big_Trees_Nar...
Re: Ask HN: What would you do with a 130 ton locomotive?
#13Roll it downhill to create surf waves
Re: Ask HN: What would you do with a 130 ton locomotive?
#14Fit a new emissions compliant engine inside it and refit the insides with modern control hardware.
Re: Ask HN: What would you do with a 130 ton locomotive?
#15I put my money on it becoming an installation at Burning Man.
I am already imagining another HeavyDSparks episode they they attempt to recover it after it gets stuck in several feet of subsurface mud out there. Half of their content is extreme Burning Man vehicle recoveries.
Re: Ask HN: What would you do with a 130 ton locomotive?
#16Roll it downhill to create surf waves
rusting aside, it does sound like a big heavy metal sled on rails that's already in california would make a pretty good surf machine
Re: Ask HN: What would you do with a 130 ton locomotive?
#17Sounds like a diesel-electric locomotive, right? If only the diesel engine is irreversibly damaged, it would still make a very good electric locomotive; easiest to convert for 750 DC third rail/1.5/3kV DC overhead, but with modern power electronics all options are possible (also 25kV AC overhead power). You just need some new circuitry, either modern, IGBT transistor-based, or old-school resistive DC one, possibly re-using most of the circuitry powering it from the original diesel-moved generator. Would be nice to own one :)
You could DM me if you would some need help in "rewiring" it, I have some experience with railway rolling stock of all kinds.
Re: Ask HN: What would you do with a 130 ton locomotive?
#18Sell it for scrap and use the money to travel. 130 tons is a hefty millstone indeed.
It's around $10,000 as scrap, assuming the scrap price for a car/truck.
Re: Ask HN: What would you do with a 130 ton locomotive?
#19> Locomotive engine must be disabled per a state grant funding agreement. What a dumb requirement. It's like the cash-for-clunkers program requiring the engines to be destroyed. The service life of a locomotive is effectively infinite - even after their useful freight days are done, they usually get refitted and sent to the developing world, or converted into a fixed power generator.
> What a dumb requirement. Wonder how "disabled" it has to be? Or maybe it could be transferred to another organization that might meet the requirements of the state? Maybe something like roaring camp railroad, or niles canyon. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roaring_Camp_%26_Big_Trees_Nar... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niles_Canyon_Railway
"Currently, sales and shipping only available in state of CA."
So they don't want it to be used in CA, but are only selling it in CA. Hence the engine must be disabled.
Re: Ask HN: What would you do with a 130 ton locomotive?
#20These will absolutely be bought by a smaller freight rail company even if for spare parts. The requirement to disable the engine is wasteful.
Eg. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Shorthaul_Railroad still runs 75 year old diesel locomotives since the tech hasn’t changed that much. This is common in the industry. The caltrain models are positively leading edge since they are only 40years old.
Suggesting a use other than continuing as a freight car for such a young model of diesel locomotive is like putting an iPhone 16 in an ancient history museum. It’s crazy talk.