Diesel Electric Services GP9 1600 (built in 1956 as ONT 1600) continues to be leased to switch Tembec's mill in Kapuskasing, Ontario.

EMD - PROGRESS RAIL Name Change

 Effective September 1st, 2016 EMD made a significant name change:

Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc became Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.

The remains of Electro-Motive Canada Co. has become Progress Rail Locomotive Canada Co. and Electro-Motive Diesel International Corp. has  become Progress Rail Locomotive International Corp.  Progress will continue to use the EMD Bug logo to promote and brand their locomotive and engine product lines. This is a name change only -- there will be no change in the structure of the above components of Progress

A colourful shot of freshly painted GMTX 2223, 2203, and 2214 tied down at the BNSF interchange in Lometa, TX on September 16th. 

Currently being constructed In Mexico, are the new EMD SD70ACe-T4 for Union Pacific. They are the company's first production EMD Tier 4 six axle freight units and the first buyers of the EMD Tier 4.  CRO can confirm the next UP Order released from Mexico are expected to be numbered from UP 3012 and up. 

EMDX EMD SD70ACe T4 1502 was photographed in early 2016 at the TTCI (Transportation Technology Center). The locomotive had gone through emissions and other engine testing.  Both EMDX 1502 and 1503 were there for several months, while EMDX SD70ACe T4 1501 was out testing on railways like BNSF, Ferromex and others. 

Please note that the brand new UP 9000-Series that we preciously posted in CRO aren't Tier 4's.  They are SD70ACe Tier 4 Credit Units, a different model and different order with the 710G prime mover at Tier 3. However UP has now ordered the SD70ACe-T4's with the new carbody, new prime mover (1010J) at Tier 4.

The plant is now building locomotives for Ferromex as well. However the number series and quantity has changed a couple of times, so we will have more in next month's CRO. We assume it won't change again, but you know what happens when we assume! 

NCLX 417a is completed and ready to be released.

LDSX 417A CB SEPT

On the LDSX Shop property in early September the following units were noted:

CN C44-9W 2556 (repairs)
Ex-Lake Erie Steel SW1000 456 (for traction motors change out)

An IC 60-Foot flat car with 2 locomotive trucks
An IC 60-Foot flat car with 2 EMD prime movers
CN 7316 (ex-CN SW1200RM part source located beside the shop)

Ex-CN 269 (LDSX owned slug)
ESSO SW900 7920 (Repairs)

NCLX SW900 417a (Completed)

Departing last month was EMDX 1 (The former GMD London plant switcher) is now on lease to a local industry.

On September 3rd, in North Bay at the Ontario Northland Shop tracks became the unloading zone for the NARCOA motorcar hobby group.  The group completed its tour on the Huron Central Railway (HCRY) Friday August 26th. Then made their way east to North Bay where on Saturday August 27th the members and their cars were off loaded on the shop tracks. We enjoyed a great couple hours watching and meeting these individuals from all over the United States and Canada, as they worked together to off load all the rail cars and set up for the departure on August 27 2016. The tour took place from August 27th, 2016 until September 3rd, 2016, running the line from North Bay ON to Cochrane ON and back.

Crews were busy at the ONR shops on September 14th, as ONT 1605 uses the run-around track to get behind SD751 ONT 2102, and shove her into the shops for some repair work.

Work continues on the Polar Bear Express coaches at the Ontario Northland Refurbishment shops in North Bay. With boarded up windows and the number board removed this unidentified coach sits in the yard awaiting paint removal and fresh blue paint in the next coming months.  Hidden inside the shops ONT 2201 continues going through the rebuild and transformation before returning to service (Return to service date unknown).

Seen in the 3rd position on the OVR F61 train is RLK 3029.  RLK 3029 returned to service from the shops in Sudbury Ontario after receiving work on the #1 motor back in late August. Photo taken Sept 20, 2016 at the North Bay OVR Yard

This new genset (UPY 913), was shot by Mike Garza near the UP (Ex-C&EI Yard) at Dolton IL in early September.

The sharp looking Cedar Rapids and Iowa City brand new genset was shot is by Mike Garza in late-August in transit on the CSX. It was made by Relco and the model is L4-1500 XD-M. Which means the Locomotive has 4 axles, and is a 1500 Horse Power Xtra duty Mother control unit, and will be mated with a slug. 

Back on September 12th, 2013, at Chicago Union Station, Richard Rosinski shot AMTK 593. One of two MP14B gensets delivered to Amtrak, ithad only just arrived in Chicago, IL. While the Amtrak Yard crews liked them at first, today those white A/C covers on the roof are melting, and the units have had some computer issues. Mainly they cannot pump enough air into the Main Res and it takes a bit of time to get the second motor to fire up, for the heavier passenger car yard moves.