Replacement and Usage Plans for Switching Locomotives Should Be Reevaluated

Various Department of Defense (DOD) components own, operate, and manage 431 switching locomotives at 139 locations. The locomotives are at bases, depots, and contractor's plants to move material within the installations or between the interchange tracks of commercial carriers. The locomotives, manufactured by 13 different manufacturers during World War II and the Korean conflict, include 10 sizes ranging from 44 tons to 120 tons. Annual operating costs and track maintenance costs have been estimated at over $30 million for all locations. In its study of the management of these locomotives, GAO visited 27 installations where a total of 73 locomotives were located.