🚀 go-pugleaf

Reprinted without permission from the _Paducah (KY) Slander_:

Officials with VMV received a major shock this morning upon arriving at
work this morning.  During the night, three locomotives which are due to
be shipped from VMV any day now sent a fax to the Association of American
Railroads, asking for political asylum in Paducah.  The locomotives,
identified only as NYS&W 4050, 4052, and 4054, have been at VMV for more
than a month while being painted. 

Appareantly, during their stay, they have developed an affection for the
city, and don't want to go to the railroad which has purchased them.  "We
like sitting here next to the paint shop" said 4050 in an Associated Press
interview.  "In New Jersey, that nasty ol' Susie Q is going to force us to
pull heavy trains and run real fast.  Here in Kentucky, all we have to do
is sit here look pretty, and smile for the photographers who get past
security.  It's real fun seeing those railfans running around with three
cameras around their necks while the security guard opens fire."

VMV and NYS&W officials aren't quite certain what course of action they will
take.  Naturally, NYS&W wants to get their new engines, but one official
said "We won't take them if they don't want to work for us."  VMV officials
have said "We hope some agreement is reached out and these engines do leave
soon.  They're tying up a track, and besides those railfans are getting as
thick as fleas at a dog show."

The State Department was asked for advice on how to handle this unusual
asylum request.  However, spokesman Dumbass Dip LoMat said "We don't
handle these type of requests".  Thus, for the time being the three
engines will continue to sit next VMV's paint shop, with their future in
limbo.  "They sure do look nice" comments one VMV worker about the
engines, "but I hope they leave real soon.  You keep them around here, and
other locomotives might also refuse to leave.  Heck, before you know it,
this place will be full of locomotives that won't want to work."

-------------------------------
Ok, Ok,  so the story above is completely bogus and a cheap attempt at
humor.  However, it is true that as of Thursday afternoon (June 8) all
three NYS&W SD70M's are still at VMV, sitting next to the paint shop.  The
paint jobs are done, and the testing and other "set up" work has been
completed.  So why are the engines still at Paducah??  Well, nobody at VMV
seems to know why.  The engines were supposed to ship Wednesday according
to information which I received directly from VMV and railraod officials. 
However, this date relied on EMD officials inspecting the engines and
giving their formal OK.  The inspection was to have taken place Tuesday or
Wednesday, but the EMD people never showed up.  And, nobody seems to know
exactly when EMD will show up and release the engines.  So, it seems that
the engines will sit for a few more days.  When (and if) the engines are
released, I'll pass along the info.

Cliff Downey   (Murray, KY)
cdowney@racer1.mursuky.edu
bj359@freenet.carleton.ca