On February 19th, 2016 Michael Berry shot this new CN potash train now operating in Eastern Canada. Running for the first time, CN B730 has 153 potash loads from Yarbo, Saskatchewan all destined for Saint John, New Brunswick photographed as it moved eastbound  through Beaconsfield, QC on Montreal's West Island. Power is a trio of GEVO's, with ET44AC CN 3032 leading ES44AC's CN 2925 trailing and CN 2879 at the end of the train.

Francois Jolin shot the Tail end DPU of the same train CN (B730) as CN ES44AC  2879 brings up the rear of the  22,000 ton potash unit train from Western Canada enroute to New Brunswick. The heavy consist has just been instructed by RTC to reduce speed, as it will shortly meet a passenger train (VIA Rail #25), five miles ahead. The head end power is CN ET44AC 3032 and CN ES44AC 2925.

February 19th, 2016 was a busy time at Brampton Intermodal Terminal (BIT). My train M398 sits at Goreway waiting for a few trains to clear. It was a crazy time at BIT as there were 3 inbounds and 2 outbounds trying to occupy some prime real estate.   At Goreway,  the light power move for train 105 which has backed up from Mac Yard diesel shop, backs onto the north service track to let L579 depart from BIT before 105 can assemble its train for Vancouver. (PH)

Lead by CN ET44AC 3001, train 121 from Montreal gets its chance to yard the  train as he heads into track #1 at BIT Yard on February  19th.

A tardy CN E231 passes by at Humber with 38 cars for the auto plant in Ingersoll, Ontario.

CN ES44DC 2306 and two other 6-axle units, sit ready for the call for service in the MacMillan Yard (Toronto) Diesel Shop on February 19th. 

A face that any railfan would love... Freshly rebuilt QNS&L SD40-3 #311 was at CN MacMillan  Yard on February  19th.  QNS&L #311 will be forwarded on an eastbound train and then a ferry to get her back to home rails. 

QNS&L #311 is looking great! Note the rebuilt unit still sports the original class lights,  roof top piping, unusual handrail behind the engineers door and huge extended fuel tank. Mac Yrd on February 19th.

Extra piping and air dryer on the rear end of the long hood QNS&L #311. You can't mistake those original GMDD Canadian steps either.

On borrowed time...With 90 new high horsepower Canadian National units on order, one has to wonder if the days of these old Draper Taper SD60F's are numbered?  CN SD60F 5525 at MacMillan Yard February 19th. 

 A General Electric-built Union Pacific AC4460CW arrived in  Toronto Mac Yard in February!   UP AC6000CW 6911 was on CN 434 and was shot as it sat  waiting for a CN  recrew  at the Bramalea  GO Station on February 12th.  Originally built to compete with EMD's SD90MAC, these 6000hp AC units were not that successful  with very few numbers purchased, and like the SD90MAC were to be converted to AC4460CW units and renumbered to 6888-6968.  UP 6911 was built in 1998.  Note that these big engines  are numbered in the Union Pacfic  6900-class as their more famous brothers, the DDA40X of which UP still has 6936 on the active roster!

   

Former EMDX SD70ACe-P6 Demonstrator (CN 8100), was shot leading #376 at Belleville, ON by Ron Visockis on January 27th, 2016.  CN roster four of these (CN 8100-8103). 

   

CN SD60F 5561 arrived at NRE Silvis, Illinois in late-January 2016 for an AR11 generator change-out.  The former Conrail SD50 also in the photo is NRE owned. 

Mark Tracy clicked CN 5386 at Woodcrest Shop on February 14th.   Aside from the replaced cab door, the 1990's-era CNNA paint still looks fairly good! 

He also snapped CN SD70M-2 98863 also at the Woodcrest Shop in Mid February. 

Andre St-Amant shot CN 461 on a nice crisp winter day, CN 461 (Garneau-Taschereau) is at St Paulin, with CN locomotives from GE and GMD; C44-9W 2571 and SD75I 5661 are pulling 99 cars on January 20th.

Do any of our CRO readers perhaps know a museum or tourist line interested to in buying this former CN SW8 Canadian GMD-built switcher?  (See next caption for details)

Ian Campbell noted CN SW8 7158 is land locked and would have to be moved by truck as they took up the tracks and the loco likely cannot be moved by rail on those old trucks. It is located about one hour north of Winnipeg, MB in Powerview-Pine Falls, MB. The owner is asking $50, 000Cdn.  Yes the price however is a little steep as it should be noted the switcher has the C-Block engine but is likely unable to move on the old Friction Bearing trucks.  http://www.kijiji.ca/v-business-  

February 18th was a good morning to be by the shop in Memphis, TN  as Darren Doss shot this variety of power sitting outside including these strange bedfellows side by side, IC 1200 and CN 8002.

   With the poor economy and ever changing traffic levels affecting the amount of activated Motive Power, CN has increased the number of stored units at their shops in Illinois, Alberta, Ontario, and Tennessee.   CN has approximately 75 locomotives in storage at Centralia. IL, the majority of which are SD60F, SD60, SD40-2W's and Dash 8-40C, and a few IC SD70 models.   Basically it comes down to a poor economy, losing major contracts to haul goods, or the end of seasonal traffic such as Grain loads.  For these major reasons all Class one railroads must from time to time store large numbers of locomotives.  CN use the following criteria to choose what locomotive models get stored:  Age of the Locomotive, Reliability, and its Performance.   The model series to be stored gets drained of fluids, the roof stack is covered, to prevent water corrosion, the Batteries are disconnected and sometimes removed, and depending on the storage location, the cab may get locked to prevent vandalism .  As well, with traffic down, in January2016,  CN had approximately 600 people laid off system wide.

 One of the few SD60F locomotives that has not been stored (CN 5538) was caught by Ron Visockis at Belleville, Ontario on February 11th, 2016. She is Extra special because she is still in her as-delivered stripes!

At Toronto MacMillan Yard stored power includes SD75I's, SD60's and this very sad sign of the times..GMD-1's dead and drained for long term storage. This photo was taken Jan 16th, 2016 at Toronto Yard. 

 

GMD-built former CN SD50F's Survive south of the border!   During Markus Suremann's "train" vacation to North America last year, he stumbled upon two former CN Cowls working and shining in good paint at the limestone loading facility in Warren, MT.  Both GMD 1985-built SD50F locomotives retain their former CN road numbers (5404 and 5438).  While most of the retired CN SD50F's have been cut up for scrap, this pair soldier on, hauling heavy trains for the Montana Limestone Company (MLC).  

  

This was CN SD50F 5404 while still in service on CN, assisting a CSX train on 8/17/2007 in Doswell, VA.  Both of these photos were taken  by Virgil Fitzpatrick.

 

    

Ex-CREX C40-8's CN 2000-2041 inclusive  are former UP C40-8's purchased by CN from CREX back in 2012. All of them have been repainted into CN uniform. All can lead and have had radiator modifications, electrical upgrades.   

 Ex-UP nee-CNW C40-8's CN 2100-2134 were the first group of ex-UP nee-CNW C40-8's purchased by CN in 2011. Some of this group are painted in the 15 Year anniversary paint scheme.  These units have DPU equipment: CN 2100-2102, 2104-2106, 2108-2110, 2113-2118, 2120, 2121, 2123, 2125, 2128-2130, 2132 and 2134.

C40-8:

 Compiled below are the ex-UP/ex-CREX C40-8's arranged by their assigned CN number:   

     NEW        FORMER NUMBERS                            SERIAL    NEW    FORMER NUMBERS     SERIAL

    2000:3    CREX 9023;  UP 9023;  CNW 8501    46085        2100:2    UP 9065;  CNW 8553    46781
    2001:3    CREX 9024;  UP 9024;  CNW 8502    46086        2101:2    UP 9066;  CNW 8554     46782
    2002:3    CREX 9025;  UP 9025;  CNW 8503    46087        2102:2    UP 9067;  CNW 8555    46783
    2003:3    CREX 9026;  UP 9026;  CNW 8514    46098        2103:2    UP 9068;  CNW 8556    46784
    2004:3    CREX 9027;  UP 9027;  CNW 8505    46089        2104:2    UP 9069;  CNW 8557    46785
    2005:3    CREX 9028;  UP 9028;  CNW 8506    46090        2105:2    UP 9070;  CNW 8558    46786
    2006:3    CREX 9029;  UP 9029;  CNW 8507    46091        2106:2    UP 9071;  CNW 8559    46787
    2007:3    CREX 9030;  UP 9030;  CNW 8508    46092        2107:2    UP 9072;  CNW 8560    46788
    2008:3    CREX 9031;  UP 9031;  CNW 8509    46093        2108:2    UP 9073;  CNW 8561    46789
    2009:3    CREX 9032;  UP 9032;  CNW 8510    46094        2109:2    UP 9074;  CNW 8562    46790
    2010:3    CREX 9033;  UP 9033;  CNW 8511    46095        2110:2    UP 9075;  CNW 8563    46791
    2011:3    CREX 9034;  UP 9034;  CNW 8513    46088        2111:2    UP 9076;  CNW 8564    46792
    2012:3    CREX 9035;  UP 9035;  CNW 8504    46097        2112:2    UP 9077;  CNW 8565    46793
    2013:3    CREX 9036;  UP 9036;  CNW 8520    46104        2113:2    UP 9078;  CNW 8566    46794
    2014:3   CREX 9037;  UP 9037;  CNW 8515    46099        2114:2    UP 9079;  CNW 8567    46795
    2015:3    CREX 9038;  UP 9038;  CNW 8516    46100        2115:2    UP 9080;  CNW 8568    46796
    2016:3    CREX 9039;  UP 9039;  CNW 8512    46096        2116:2    UP 9081;  CNW 8569    46797
    2017:3    CREX 9040;  UP 9040;  CNW 8518    46102        2117:2    UP 9082;  CNW 8570    46798
    2018:3    CREX 9041;  UP 9041;  CNW 8519    46103        2118:2    UP 9083;  CNW 8571    46799
    2019:3    CREX 9042;  UP 9042;  CNW 8523    46107        2119:2    UP 9084;  CNW 8572    46800
    2020:3    CREX 9043;  UP 9043;  CNW 8521    46105        2120       UP 9085;  CNW 8573    46801
    2021:3    CREX 9044;  UP 9044;  CNW 8522    46106        2121       UP 9086;  CNW 8574    46802
    2022:3    CREX 9045;  UP 9045;  CNW 8525    46109        2122       UP 9087;  CNW 8575    46803
    2023:3    CREX 9046;  UP 9046;  CNW 8524    46108        2123       UP 9088;  CNW 8576    46804
    2024:3    CREX 9047;  UP 9047;  CNW 8526    46110        2124       UP 9089;  CNW 8577    46805
    2025:2    CREX 9048;  UP 9048;  CNW 8517    46101        2125       UP 9090;  CNW 8549    46777
    2026:2    CREX 9049;  UP 9049;  CNW 8527    46111        2126       UP 9091;  CNW 8543    46771
    2027:2    CREX 9050;  UP 9050;  CNW 8528    46112        2127       UP 9092;  CNW 8544    46772
    2028:2    CREX 9051;  UP 9051;  CNW 8529    46113        2128       UP 9093;  CNW 8545    46773
    2029:2    CREX 9052;  UP 9052;  CNW 8530    46114        2129       UP 9094;  CNW 8546    46774
    2030:2    CREX 9053;  UP 9053;  CNW 8531    46371        2130       UP 9095;  CNW 8547    46775
    2031:2    CREX 9054;  UP 9054;  CNW 8532    46372        2131       UP 9096;  CNW 8548    46776
    2032:2    CREX 9055;  UP 9055;  CNW 8533    46373        2132       UP 9097;  CNW 8550    46778
    2033:2    CREX 9056;  UP 9056;  CNW 8534    46374        2133       UP 9098;  CNW 8551    46779
    2034:2    CREX 9057;  UP 9057;  CNW 8535    46375        2134      UP 9099;  CNW 8552    46780
    2035:2    CREX 9058;  UP 9058;  CNW 8536    46376                             
    2036:2    CREX 9059;  UP 9059;  CNW 8537    46377    
    2037:2    CREX 9060;  UP 9060;  CNW 8538    46378    
    2038:2    CREX 9061;  UP 9061;  CNW 8539    46379    
    2039:2    CREX 9062;  UP 9062;  CNW 8540    46380
    2040:2    CREX 9063:  UP 9063;  CNW 8541    46381
    2041:2    CREX 9064;  UP 9064;  CNW 8542    46382

 C40-8W:  

 Compiled below are the ex-BNSF C40-8W's arranged by their assigned CN number.    

    NEW        FORMER NUMBERS    SERIAL    NEW    FORMER NUMBERS    SERIAL

    2098        BNSF 865;  ATSF 865    46994        2167    BNSF 811;  ATSF 811    46940
    2099        BNSF 866   ATSF 866    46995        2168    BNSF 813;  ATSF 813    46942
    2135        BNSF 800;  ATSF 800    46929        2169    BNSF 815;  ATSF 815    46944
    2136        BNSF 802;  ATSF 802    46931        2170    BNSF 817;  ATSF 817    46946
    2137        BNSF 804;  ATSF 804    46933        2171    BNSF 819;  ATSF 819    46948
    2138        BNSF 806;  ATSF 806    46935        2172    BNSF 821;  ATSF 821    46950
    2139        BNSF 808;  ATSF 808    46937        2173    BNSF 823;  ATSF 823    46952
    2140        BNSF 810;  ATSF 810    46939        2174    BNSF 825;  ATSF 825    46954
    2141        BNSF 812;  ATSF 812    46941        2175    BNSF 827;  ATSF 827    46956
    2142        BNSF 814;  ATSF 814    46943        2176    BNSF 829;  ATSF 829    46958
    2143        BNSF 816;  ATSF 816    46945        2177    BNSF 831;  ATSF 831    46960
    2144        BNSF 818;  ATSF 818    46947        2178    BNSF 833;  ATSF 833    46962
    2145        BNSF 820;  ATSF 820    46949        2179    BNSF 835;  ATSF 835    46964
    2146        BNSF 822;  ATSF 822    46951        2180    BNSF 837;  ATSF 837    46966
    2147        BNSF 824;  ATSF 824    46953        2181    BNSF 839;  ATSF 839    46968
    2148        BNSF 826;  ATSF 826    46955        2182    BNSF 841;  ATSF 841    46970
    2149        BNSF 828;  ATSF 828    46957        2183    BNSF 843;  ATSF 843    46972
    2150        BNSF 830;  ATSF 830    46959        2184    BNSF 845;  ATSF 845    46974
    2151        BNSF 832;  ATSF 832    46961        2185    BNSF 847;  ATSF 847    46976
    2152        BNSF 834;  ATSF 834    46963        2186    BNSF 849;  ATSF 849    46978
    2153        BNSF 836;  ATSF 836    46965        2187    BNSF 851;  ATSF 851    46980
    2154        BNSF 838;  ATSF 838    46967        2188    BNSF 853;  ATSF 853    46982
    2155        BNSF 840;  ATSF 840    46969        2189    BNSF 854;  ATSF 854    46983
    2156        BNSF 842;  ATSF 842    46971        2190    BNSF 855;  ATSF 855    46984         
    2157        BNSF 844;  ATSF 844    46973        2191    BNSF 856;  ATSF 856    46985
    2158        BNSF 846;  ATSF 846    46975        2192    BNSF 857;  ATSF 857    46986
    2159        BNSF 848;  ATSF 848    46977        2193    BNSF 858;  ATSF 858    46987
    2160        BNSF 850;  ATSF 850    46979        2194    BNSF 859;  ATSF 859    46988
    2161        BNSF 852;  ATSF 852    46981        2195    BNSF 860;  ATSF 860    46989
    2162        BNSF 801;  ATSF 801    46930        2196     BNSF 861;  ATSF 861    46990
    2163        BNSF 803;  ATSF 803    46932        2197    BNSF 862;  ATSF 862    46991
    2164        BNSF 805;  ATSF 805    46934        2198    BNSF 863;  ATSF 863    46992
    2165        BNSF 807;  ATSF 807    46936        2199    BNSF 864;  ATSF 864    46993
    2166        BNSF 809;  ATSF 809    46938

 Look who has come to Canada! After being rebuilt and repainted at NRE Silvis, IL following a wreck with WSOR in Wisconsin, CN C40-8W 2191 looks great on January 25th, 2016 as she waits her next assignment on the Toronto MacMillan Yard shop track.

Former LMSX C40-8W Status:

 IC C40-8W 2458, 2461, and 2465 are the only ones painted in CN uniform to date.  IC 2458 and 2461 were painted at the Centralia Shop in Illinois and  IC 2465 was done at the Transcona Shop in Winnipeg.   The other LMSX C40-8W's are wearing (Conrail) blue paint, and are patched "IC". After operating on CN and Conrail for many years in a co-leasing arrangement in the 1990's, LMSX 728-736, 738, and 739) eventually had their leases purchased by CN. One is off the roster, IC 2464 was retired in 2012, after being wrecked on the CSX.

 Released in December 2015 in new paint Ron Visockis shot IC 2461 in Belleville, ON January 7th, 2016 led by CN ES44AC 3027.  The former bluebird was repainted in December 2015 at Centralia Shop.

 

CN (ex-GMTX/ex-EMDX) SD60 Status:

CN acquired 90 second-hand EMD / Oakway Leasing  (3,800 hp) SD60 locomotives back in 2012, which were delivered in two purchases: 

 • CN SD60 5400-5442 (1st group)
• CN SD60 5443-5489 (2nd group). 
 All are upgraded to CN specifications, repainted into CN colours, and can lead.  

 However, in late 2015 and still continuing into 2016, a number were  sidelined and remain stored at Centralia, Woodcrest, and elsewhere on the system due to the economic down turn in rail traffic.

 CN (ex-Oakway) SD60 Roster:            

  NEW        FORMER NUMBERS        SERIAL            NEW    FORMER NUMBERS        SERIAL

    5400:2    GMTX 9013; OWY 9013    867150-14            5445:2    EMDX 9002; OWY 9002    867150-03
    5401:2    GMTX 9020; OWY 9020    867150-21            5446:2    EMDX 9003; OWY 9003    867150-04
    5402:2    GMTX 9023; OWY 9023    867150-24            5447:2    EMDX 9004; OWY 9004    867150-05
    5403:2    GMTX 9027; OWY 9027    867150-28            5448:2    EMDX 9005; OWY 9005    867150-06
    5404:2    GMTX 9030; OWY 9030    867150-31            5449:2    EMDX 9006; OWY 9006    867150-07
    5405:2    GMTX 9033; OWY 9033    867150-34            5450:2    EMDX 9007; OWY 9007    867150-08
    5406:2    GMTX 9034; OWY 9034    867150-35            5451:2    EMDX 9008; OWY 9008    867150-09
    5407:2    GMTX 9035; OWY 9035    867150-36            5452:2    EMDX 9009; OWY 9009    867150-10
    5408:2    GMTX 9036; OWY 9036    867150-37            5453:2    EMDX 9010; OWY 9010    867150-11
    5409:2    GMTX 9037; OWY 9037    867150-38            5454:2    EMDX 9011; OWY 9011    867150-12
    5410:2    GMTX 9040; OWY 9040    867150-41            5455:2    EMDX 9012; OWY 9012    867150-13
    5411:2    GMTX 9042; OWY 9042    867150-43            5456:2   EMDX 9015; OWY 9015    867150-16
    5412:2    GMTX 9043; OWY 9043    867150-44            5457:2    EMDX 9017; OWY 9017    867150-18
    5413:2    GMTX 9045; OWY 9045    867150-46            5458:2    EMDX 9018; OWY 9018    867150-19
    5414:2    GMTX 9046; OWY 9046    867150-47            5459:2    EMDX 9019; OWY 9019    867150-20
    5415:2    GMTX 9050; OWY 9050    867150-51            5460       EMDX 9021; OWY 9021    867150-22
    5416:2    GMTX 9051; OWY 9051    867150-52            5461       EMDX 9022; OWY 9022    867150-23
    5417:2    GMTX 9053; OWY 9053    867150-54            5462       EMDX 9024; OWY 9024    867150-25
    5418:2    GMTX 9054; OWY 9054    867150-55            5463       EMDX 9025; OWY 9025    867150-26
    5419:2    GMTX 9055; OWY 9055    867150-56            5464       EMDX 9026; OWY 9026    867150-27
    5420:2    GMTX 9056; OWY 9056    867150-57            5465       EMDX 9028; OWY 9028    867150-29
    5421:2    GMTX 9057; OWY 9057    867150-58            5466       EMDX 9029; OWY 9029     867150-30
    5422:2    GMTX 9058; OWY 9058    867150-59            5467       EMDX 9031; OWY 9031    867150-32
    5423:2    GMTX 9060; OWY 9060    867150-61            5468       EMDX 9032; OWY 9032    867150-33
    5424:2    GMTX 9064; OWY 9064    867150-65            5469       EMDX 9038; OWY 9038    867150-39
    5425:2    GMTX 9066; OWY 9066    867150-67            5470       EMDX 9039; OWY 9039    867150-40
    5426:2    GMTX 9069; OWY 9069    867150-70            5471       EMDX 9047; OWY 9047    867150-48
    5427:2    GMTX 9071; OWY 9071    867150-72            5472       EMDX 9048; OWY 9048    867150-49
    5428:2    GMTX 9073; OWY 9073    867150-74            5473       EMDX 9049; OWY 9049    867150-50
    5429:2    GMTX 9074; OWY 9074    867150-75            5474       EMDX 9052; OWY 9052    867150-53
    5430:2    GMTX 9075; OWY 9075    867150-76            5475       EMDX 9063; OWY 9063    867150-64
    5431:2    GMTX 9076; OWY 9076    867150-77            5476       EMDX 9065; OWY 9065    867150-66
    5432:2    GMTX 9078; OWY 9078    867150-79            5477       EMDX 9068; OWY 9068    867150-69
    5433:2    GMTX 9079; OWY 9079    867150-80            5478       EMDX 9070; OWY 9070    867150-71
    5434:2    GMTX 9080; OWY 9080    867150-81            5479       EMDX 9072; OWY 9072    867150-73
    5435:2    GMTX 9085; OWY 9085    867150-86            5480       EMDX 9077; OWY 9077    867150-78
    5436:2    GMTX 9086; OWY 9086    867150-87            5481       EMDX 9081; OWY 9081    867150-82
    5437:2    GMTX 9087; OWY 9087    867150-88            5482       EMDX 9083; OWY 9083    867150-84
    5438:2    GMTX 9089; OWY 9089    867150-90            5483       EMDX 9084; OWY 9084    867150-85
    5439:2    GMTX 9092; OWY 9092    867150-93            5484       EMDX 9088; OWY 9088    867150-89
    5440:2    GMTX 9095; OWY 9095    867150-96            5485       EMDX 9090; OWY 9090    867150-91
    5441:2    GMTX 9097; OWY 9097    867150-98            5486       EMDX 9091; OWY 9091    867150-92
    5442:2    GMTX 9099; OWY 9099   867150-100           5487       EMDX 9093; OWY 9093    867150-94
    5443:2    EMDX 9000; OWY 9000    867150-01            5488      EMDX 9096; OWY 9096     867150-97
    5444:2    EMDX 9001; OWY 9001    867150-02            5489      EMDX 9098; OWY 9098     867150-99

 Oakway SD60 9041 was wrecked during the 1980's while on lease to BN.  The locomotive was replaced with (Electro Motive Diesel Division) SD60 Demonstrator EMDX #3.

Oakway SD60 9062 was wrecked and scrapped in the 1990's.

On February 19th, 2016 Mark Tracy shot CN 5483 sitting in the sun outside the Woodcrest Shop.

The same day at Woodcrest, Mark clicked her EMD sibling, CN SD60 5435. 

CN locos Sold or Retired:

Last CN Retirements to date:

 CN C40-8W 2191 (Retired in October 2014 with major damage following the WSOR collision in Wisconsin, became Unretired in 2015 and was fully repaired and repainted at NRE Silvis , IL.  She returned to service in January 2016). 

 CN GP9RM 7220 (Retired between Aug 12, and Dec 31, 2015).  

 CN GP9-Slug 207 and 227 (Were both "Un-Retired" between Aug 12, and Dec 31, 2015).

 CN GP9-Slug 249 and CN HBU-4 522 (Were Retired between March 12, and August 12, 2015).

 CN GP9-Slug 211, and WC SW1500 1552 and 1560 (Retired in 2013, 2013 and 2012 respectively, were "Un-Retired" sometime between March 12 and August 12, 2015).  

 IC E9Au 100 and 101 ( Retired in 2014, were sold to the Iowa Pacific in October 2014). 

  

Big CN Spending Coming In 2016!

On February 10th, 2016 Canadian National Railway  announced the details of its 2016 plan to invest approximately C$2.9 billion in rail infrastructure and equipment to raise network efficiency, support long-term growth and further strengthen safety. 

Claude Mongeau, president and chief executive officer, said: "CN is investing for the long term and we are again planning a significant capital program in 2016 to support a safe and fluid railway network, and to raise the bar on efficiency and customer service. Despite the current uncertain economic environment, it is a good time to harden our infrastructure because we can do the work faster and at a better price."

CN plans to spend approximately C$1.5 billion on track infrastructure to maintain a highly efficient and safe network. This work will include the replacement of rail, ties, and other track materials, bridge improvements, and targeted branch line upgrades.

CN will invest C$600 million in rolling stock equipment, allowing the company to tap available growth opportunities and to improve the quality of its car fleet. To handle future traffic volumes and further improve fuel efficiency, CN also expects to take delivery of 90 new high-horsepower locomotives.

The company plans to invest C$400 million this year in a range of other key initiatives to drive productivity and to improve service for its customers. CN will also spend C$400 million on the implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) technology on portions of its U.S. rail network. CN plans to install all the required technology hardware on approximately 3,500 route-miles of its network by the end of 2018, with full PTC system operability achieved by the end of 2020, as required by U.S. federal government safety legislation.

Mongeau concluded: "The strength of CN's balance sheet enables us to sustain significant capital investments throughout business cycles. Rail is critical to the North American economy, and our investments will allow the company to build on its long- term competitive advantage."

CN / VIA 2014 Wreck - The  Cause Determined By TSB:

Worn components on a rail car led to the derailment and collision involving a CN train and a VIA passenger train near Gananoque, Ontario, in August 2014, the http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/ TRANSPORTION SAFTEY BOARD  (TSB) announced in Mid February. The incident caused no injuries, but did damage rail cars on both trains. The fuel tank on the VIA locomotive was punctured, releasing  about 1000 liters of diesel fuel. The last six cars on the CN train derailed, according to a TSB press release.

The TSB's investigation revealed that the CN train was proceeding east on the north main track of the CN Kingston Subdivision when it derailed east of Gananoque. The train crew made an emergency radio broadcast. 

At about that same time, the VIA train was proceeding west on the south main track. After hearing CN's emergency broadcast, the VIA crew applied the emergency brake. As the two trains were slowing to a stop, a derailed central beam bulkhead flat car from the CN train hit the lead locomotive of the VIA train and scraped along the north side of the VIA locomotive and five passenger coaches.

The derailment occurred as a result of excessive truck hunting - the side-to-side movement of wheel sets within a freight-car truck - on the empty center beam bulkhead flat car. The excessive truck hunting in this case was influenced by the type of car, train speed and the worn condition of the constant contact side bearings (CCSB) and the friction wedge, as well as the truck type.  When inspectors perform a visual inspection of these rail cars, they look for contact between the CCSB and the car body underframe. In this case, the TSB determined that visual inspections alone may not have been enough.

In this incident and another similar derailment, certain older cars with worn and ineffective CCSBs are at risk of derailing due to excessive truck hunting. 

About 48,000 bulkhead flatcars and center beam bulkhead flat cars throughout North America may be susceptible to truck hunting. As a result, the TSB is concerned that certain detector systems and visual inspection programs may not identify cars susceptible to truck hunting, which increases the risk of derailments.

After the derailment, both CN and Canadian Pacific reintroduced speed restrictions for empty center beam bulkhead flat cars. In addition, CN began upgrading the CCSBs on two series of center beam flat cars, TSB officials said.

What is a  CCSB?

CN (PTC) Positive Train Control

Three Class 1 railroads - CN, CSX and Norfolk Southern Railway - have informed the US Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) they won't meet the 2018 deadline to implement Positive Train Control (PTC), according to a report by the Associated Press (AP). Four commuter railroads - SunRail in Florida, Metra in Chicago, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and Trinity Railway Express in Texas also will miss the 2018 deadline, according to the AP. Railroads were required to report to the FRA of their PTC plans last week.

 The other four Class Is - Union Pacific Railroad, BNSF Railway Co., Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern - told the FRA they would meet the 2018 deadline, AP reported. Late last year, Congress extended its original PTC deadline of Dec. 31, 2015, to the end of 2018. The new legislation also allowed that, under certain circumstances, railroads would have until 2020 to implement the safety technology. After Congress approved a later date, FRA Administrator Sarah Feinberg advised railroads not to assume they have until 2020 to install and begin using PTC on their networks.

 CN Milton:

In February CN submitted a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency for the proposed Milton Logistics Hub intermodal yard to be built in Milton (editor's comment: we locals refer to it as the "South Halton Intermodal Terminal, but I digress). The document describes measures the company plans to adopt to lessen the project's environmental impact on the community:

 * A private road to be constructed on CN property to avoid truck backups on public roads.

 * A new underpass to be constructed for Lower Base Line to minimize the impact on commuters travelling in east and west directions past the hub.

 * Raised earthen berms (Filled with sod) topped off with native Ontario vegetation and trees to reduce the effects of noise and blend into the natural environment of the area.

 * Enhancements to be made to the natural habitat of Indian Creek.

 * Environmentally advanced technology and design in the hub, including solar panels, rainwater capture, natural and LED lighting. The study concluded that terminal-generated traffic on neighbouring roads will increase less than 3 percent of predicted volumes during peak hours, the railroad says. The Environmental Assessment Agency will accept public comment on the proposed facility at a later date.  (Don McQueen). Bottom of Form

 With their NARCOA motorcar group sitting in the siding at  Montreal River on September 25, 2004, some of the group hiked up to photograph the southbound Agawa Canyon Tour train as it rolled over the Montreal River Bridge. It was quite a hike to get here but the result was SO worth it. (Geoff Elliott photo).

It is hard to believe that not one of these CN photos from September and October 1976 was taken in Canada! Douglas Leffler shot these in his home town of Jackson, Michigan when power short Conrail had leased a real mixed bag of units from CN. Conrail DC-1 is shown with CN GP35 4000, GP40 4010 and an M636 in October 1976. In September, CN GP35 4001 and GP40-2LW's 9518 and 9511 are the foreign power in Jackson, MI.

CN GP35 #4000 was a very rare bird on CN. As GMD was already building the newer GP38 and GP40-series.  CN only ever purchased a pair of them; CN 4000-4001 in October 1964. Peter Coulombe has CN 4000 in Montreal in the 1960's from his collection of photos we have posted in CRO.

 Brand new Canadian National SD40 5118 was shot by the official GMD photographer, (an employee of Nelson Studios), factory fresh from the London plant in late 1969.

A little over 20 years later, CN SD40 5118 ended up at the Pointe St-Charles Shop in Montreal where on June 12th 1992  Pierre Fournier shot her beside CN GP9 4571, waiting their turns to be rebuilt as GP9RM 7007, and SD40u 6002. 

  CN 5118 rebuilt into CN SD40u  6002 and wearing her third paint scheme was shot by Phil Hall in Toronto Yard in 2000.  All the CN 6000-Series SD40u's were upgraded to Dash 3 standards, installation of Q-Tron microprocessors, addition of extended range dynamic brakes, a rebuilt cab with new interior, and a new extended nose which incorporated a new crew toilet.  These were also one of the first group of CN locomotives to receive the new CN North America paint scheme and when first placed in service were often placed as lead units, which was a nice change for railfans as Wide Nosed CN units was the norm.    

Today the CN 6000-series SD40u's have been modified into Remote Control locomotives, and have been re-geared for yard / hump service, and some operate with (slug) boosters.  Phil Hall snapped this photo of CN 6020 in Toronto MacMillan Yard, wearing her third CN paint scheme!  

Walter Pfefferle came across these two shots he took when foreign power was running though on most trains. A real colorful time in those days! A real colorful lashup with BNSF 520 leading. Ingersoll Ontario in April 2007. 

BNSF 9225 was shot rolling through Woodstock, Ontario on June 2007.

 

 

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