AZ Railfan Wrote:
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> After the bankruptcy proceedings maybe D&S will do
> a significant accounting on write-down on these
> non-performing assets, yet retain ownership of
> them. Who knows, down the road their new
> prime-movers, alternators, and electronics could
> be used to “modernize” two of the Alcos…
First - Who do the incomplete locomotives legally belong to? While D&S has actual physical custody of them (possession is 9/10ths), it would appear that D&S never accepted delivery of them and did in fact make some kind of payments towards them. So do they revert to D&S to settle their outstanding claim or do they belong to the bankruptcy court/receiver as an asset of MP&ES that is to be auctioned or sold to satisfy in part ALL the debts and claims against the company?
Second - These are absolutely a total 100% bastard design of MP&ES. One their website, MP&ES bragged about having their own electronic control system, which then would have to be integrated into diesel engine controls (assuming it's new enough to have EFI). So unless MP&ES supplied a full set of prints, parts lists and software documentation there is little chance that anyone outside MP&ES could make these actually run as designed. Why would you want to take four of the DL535s which appear to be running decent and in turn bastardize two of them? My best guess is that even if you could complete these units enough to begin road testing them, I really can't see that their design would be anything reliable or meet the operating expectations.
If D&S ends up with them, I wouldn't be surprised if they don't salvage the traction motors as spares for the DL535s, maybe some other usable components such as air brake, air compressor, fixtures or switchgear (as their own spares or sale), sell the gen-sets and everything else is scrap.
Personally, I would like to see them just because they are weird and wonderful and to see if there is anything of value in potentially completing them.
