Union Pacific Loco Storage.

[Broithe]

I came across this video this morning.
 

 

[RobertRoche]

That's a lot of idle horsepower!

[JasonB]

There's a few bobs worth sitting there. 

[Glenderg]

Grim viewing

[Broithe]

At least they're not scrapped - yet.

[Mayner]

We saw a lot of stored power and rolling stock when we visited the United States in 2016, apparently as a result of a collapse in oil and coal traffic.

It was particularly noticeable on the Union Pacific ex Rio Grande main line across Colorado & Utah. The Yard at Grand Junction was full of stored road and switching locos, every second passing loop between Denver & Salt Lake City full of stored coal hoppers.  

Freight car storage has become a big source of income for short lines and regionals that no doubt can offer substantially lower storage charges than the Class 1 Roads. We saw literally miles of oil tank cars stored on branch lines in the Mid West

Stored tank cars end of track Paris branch Otter Valley Railroad Minnesota

Stored tank cars a New Effington grain elevator Sunflower Railroad South Dakota. There has been no regular traffic on this line for many years

Apparently the owner used to fly up from Texas to the local air strip to drive the roads SW1 switcher when there there was traffic to be shipped

[Noel]

Interesting. Between the USAs massive switch to fracking and growing trend towards renewables, oil's days seem numbered. The entire geopolitical balance may change as middle eastern oil supplies become less important to western economies. USA is such a vast land area rail freight still seems to have a long term future. 

[ttc0169]

And I thought 10 stored 201s were bad in this country but 4 1/2 miles of stored locomotives......

[aclass007]

I suppose one thing in their favour is that the climate there is probably a lot kinder to stored stock than it is here in Ireland...

[minister_for_hardship]

1 hour ago, aclass007 said:

I suppose one thing in their favour is that the climate there is probably a lot kinder to stored stock than it is here in Ireland...

And the lack of stone throwing vandals in the desert.

[jhb171achill]

1 hour ago, minister_for_hardship said:

And the lack of stone throwing vandals in the desert.

Exactly.

And if stone throwing scum WERE apprehended over there, one gets the impression that both police and judges would be a lot harder on them than here, where we hear how hard a life the poor vandal has had blah blah, to nauseating ad infinitum; an insult to those from less fortunate backgrounds who have tried to make a life for themselves.....