Last of its Kind: Portland and Western number 1501 was one of the last SD7 locomotives in regular freight service in North America. It was built in November of 1952 as Southern Pacific number 5280. After a long career with the SP, the unit was sold to the Portland and Western Railroad in the state of Oregon. For many years, it served as the Albany yard switcher, assembling cuts of cars for various trains. Following a settlement with the EPA over diesel engine emissions and record keeping, parent company Genesee & Wyoming agreed to scrap 88 diesel locomotives, including the 1501. The 1501 was removed from service on July 19th, 2023. A few months later, it was reported that it had been sold to a locomotive equipment dealer and another unit had been scrapped in its place (PNWR 3001). In late September of 2023, 1501 departed Albany, bound for its new home in Kansas. In this scene from December of 2022, the locomotive is busy shuffling cars about the yard with a wreath adorning the side of its cab, just one month after its 70th birthday. Little more than half a year later, the 1501 would be parked for the last time, bringing to an end this chapter of freight railroad history in the Northwest.
