| Durango & Silverton Nos. 1201 & 1202 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||
| V - E - T - D | |||||
D&SNG Nos. 1201 and 1202 are two custom-built MP2000NG (F40NG) type narrow gauge diesel locomotives built by Motive Power & Equipment Solutions, Inc. (MP&ES) of Greenville, SC sometime between 2018 and 2020 for the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNG) in Durango, CO. They were both rebuilt from two former Tri-Rail EMD F40PHL-2 type standard gauge diesels. Originally slated to enter service on the D&SNG sometime in 2021, they instead were both placed in indefinite storage in Durango, CO due to a lawsuit between the D&SNG and the now-defunct MP&ES, the latter of whom ultimately filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on February 25, 2022.
History[]
Between June 1st and July 11, 2018, a massive wildfire called the 416 Fire was started and burned a total of 54,130 acres ten miles north of Durango, CO. As a result of this, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNG) temporarily suspended all of their operations until July 12, 2018. After the 416 Fire was finally extinguished completely on July 31, 2018, it was then rumored that burning cinders and sparks from one of the D&SNG's coal-burning narrow gauge steam locomotives may have started the fire, so many local businesses and residents filed several lawsuits against the D&SNG for the damage from the fire, even though it was not yet determined what caused it at that time. However, these rumors would later be confirmed in July 2019, as it was determined that the 416 Fire was caused by one of the D&SNG's coal-burning steamers. The lawsuits claimed that train management and owner of the D&SNG, Allen C. Harper, recklessly made a decision to operate the coal-burning steamers despite the ongoing dry conditions caused by severe drought at that time.
Following these several lawsuits, the D&SNG announced that they would be making some major changes to their operations, including converting most, if not all, of their operable steamers from coal burners to oil burners, as well as acquiring two new custom-built narrow gauge diesel locomotives from Motive Power & Equipment Solutions, Inc. (MP&ES) in Greenville, SC. Originally, these two diesels were to be numbered 550, which was chosen as a reference to the highway linking Durango, CO and Silverton, CO, and 416, which was chosen in recognition of the extraordinary effort undertaken by firefighters to fight the 416 Fire, but these plans ultimately never came to be and they were instead assigned the numbers 1201 and 1202. It was originally stated that these two diesels would be delivered to the D&SNG in late 2018 or early 2019, but a few mechanical issues and several design flaws ultimately delayed the delivery until September 2020.
During the worldwide COVID-19 lockdown between March and June 2020, the D&SNG would also acquire four former White Pass & Yukon Route (WP&Y) DL-535E type narrow gauge diesels, Nos. 101, 103, 106, and 107, in April 2020 due to the delayed delivery of 1201 and 1202. When 1201 and 1202 were finally delivered to the D&SNG alongside diesels 101 and 107 in September 2020, it was originally stated that they would enter service on the D&SNG sometime in 2021. Unfortunately, more design flaws were soon found and several missing parts were also discovered, so the D&SNG sued MP&ES for not meeting their expectations with 1201 and 1202. Due to the severity of the lawsuit, MP&ES would later file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on February 25, 2022, but they are still delivering parts for 1201 and 1202 at a rather slow pace afterwards. As of today, 1201 and 1202 are both sitting in storage indefinitely in Durango, CO waiting for the remainder of their parts to be delivered.
Currently, there are two possible fates for these two diesels; either being placed into service on the D&SNG when the time is right or being sold to either another operator or for scrap.
Gallery[]
