Oh how sad!! These were dependable workhorses that will be missed on the NEC!
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Interesting photo Matt - you captured the "death" of an ASEA AEM-7 and it's parts scattered around the facility. What's also interesting is to read that Amtrak is selling things on eBay. A Federally Funded and Government run railroad is so cash-strapped that they are resorting to selling scrapped parts on eBay to try to generate any income to keep operating. Wow - they are desperate.
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I would love to have the horn and/or control stand from a "Toaster". Thankfully, one of theses was donated to the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum in Strasburg, so at least a full sized "Toaster" was saved.
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Or Dana, they simply realize the historical value of these items. Why are you on this website if you don;t like trains?
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Desperate? Not necessarily. Perhaps they just understand that there is a market among railfans for parts, and it cuts down on idiots trying to sneak in to steal things, too. I think it's a great idea!
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I knew this was coming, but still a very sad scene!
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I have to agree with Dana M., Max. I like trains but I'm not going to pay $100 for a single number board that collectively are worth no more than $5. We all know that Amtrak is not the best run railroad in the world and is strapped for cash these days.
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Folks - I love trains, That's why I'm a member of this site. Max - I appreciate the photo that Matt took of this ASEA AEM-7 being cut up for scrap as it shows the side of railroading that is a little on the "sad" or "dark" side that most notably gets overlooked or even forgotten. I don't often consider the fact that every locomotive I see running on the rails today will eventually end up as a razor blade or a car door tomorrow. The fact is that Amtrak would resort to eBay to sell off scrapped items to generate money. They are a Federally run Government entity that has notoriously been operating in the red since they were started in the 1970's. I find it ironic that a railroad like Amtrak needing funding and not getting it from their "bosses" in the Federal Government - would turn to eBay to bring in any type of revenue they can generate. On top of the fact that the steady funding that they do have is not handled properly as they tend to not manage their finances efficiently right now. Funny - I don't see any other Class 1 railroads selling stuff on eBay themselves - the only items on eBay from other railroads are usually from collectors or estate sales wanting to purge stuff from their collections.
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