What's an engine 'deadline'?

CNWman

CNW Fan
What is an engine 'deadline? I've read about old engines on 'deadlines', but it seems that some engines in them are scrapped while others will live again, so are they storage tracks or something else? It seems almost every major class 1 RR had a few.
 

railohio

Active Member
It's where engines are stored dead. Some are stored serviceable and some not. Some are rebuilt and some are scrapped.
 

brakie

Active Member
A dead line is x number of yard tracks where locomotives can be stored..The reasons could be for the following:
1.Stored until needed*.
2.To be traded in on new locomotives.
3.Sold to locomotive re-builder.
4.Sold to another railroad.
5.Stored until they are rebuilt.
6.Sold to a scrapper.

*Some railroads (especially class IIs) sees down turns in business and store surplus locomotives till business picksup.Some slow down in business could be cause by seasonal traffic such as grain,oats,corn,ore,lumber,stone etc.
 
N

nachoman

brakie, I think you forgot #7

7. Stored and used as spare/replacement parts.

Kevin
 

brakie

Active Member
brakie, I think you forgot #7

7. Stored and used as spare/replacement parts.

Kevin


20069921145_Homer.jpg
 

MCL_RDG

Member
And of course #8...

...
8. Stored temporarily for railfans to get a last glimpse of something they'll never see again. :(
 

nkp174

Active Member
Some of the saddest pictures in books are where there are strings of rusty steam locomotives awaiting the torch on the dead line. Many deadlines where emptied during WW2.
 
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