CANADIAN NATIONAL |
On December 23rd, CN C40-8W #2141 was released from Woodcrest, and is the very first of the former BNSF GE’s repainted into CN livery and to enter service. This locomotive is ex-BNSF nee-ATSF C40-8W #812, and was done at Woodcrest Shop because the Centrailia Shop are still completing the last of the ex-UP (nee-CNW) C40-8’s. There were at least two other ex-BNSF C40-8W’s at Woodcrest as we went to press. Christian White caught CN 2141 on CN E251 on one of her first runs.
Walter Pfefferle caught 332 with CN 8914 - CN 2330 - CN 5511 - CN 2141 between the raindrops in Woodstock Ontario December 30th. CN C40-8W 2141 is sure to be photographed a lot over the next few weeks!
The keen eye of Mike Robin noted in this shot of new Great Lakes Central GP38-2 #396, no one had mentioned or noticed the first CN painted ex-ATSF C4O-8W in the background, CN #2141!
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=349505&nseq=0 As well just before Christmas, CN SD70M-2’s 8945 and 8946 were released from EMCC London, ON, and are in service. To date all units from 8915-8946 have been delivered and are all in service over the system. CN Train A442 South (Edmonton, AB to Calgary, AB general merchandise service), is seen passing through Hubalta, MP 124 on the Three Hills Subdivision, two miles from Sarcee Yard on Dec 13th with one of the earlier group of units: CN SD70M-2 8927. Up until a couple of years ago, A442 was a daily train but now is operated only as needed. CN typically places any General merchandise freight on the head end of daily IMS train Q115, rather than running a separate train consist. (Cor van Steenis photo).
As of December 18th, 30 of 35 ex-UP C40-8's were in CN livery and in service: CN 2101, 2103, 2104, 2105, 2106, 2107*, 2108, 2109, 2111, 2112*, 2113*, 2114, 2115*, 2116, 2117, 2118, 2120, 2121, 2122, 2123, 2124*, 2125, 2126, 2127, 2128*, 2129, 2130, 2131, 2132, 2133 and 2134. The asterisk signifies the 15-year artwork. CN C44-9W 2587 arrived in Chicago, IL December 22nd with heavy fire damage to the engine area of the long hood. For now she is at Homewood Shop, but may end up at Relco in Albia, IA., or possibly another repair shop. On December 22nd George Redmond reported only a few ex-UP C40-8 units remain to cycle through the IC Centralia Shop with the five (CN 2100, 2102, 2109, 2110, 2119), in various stages of prep for repaint. Here is a shot of CN 2101, CN 2104, and UP yellow 2110 taken in the first week of December.
December 21st, George Redmond caught CN 2108 running in fresh paint at the Diesel facility at Centralia, Il. He clicked ex-UP Yellow 2109, and CN 2119 and ex-BNSF 2138 parked by the coal chute. The same day George Redmond spotted GP38-2 Great Lakes Central 396, freshly painted at Paducah, as the 3rd unit on NB CN train M335. Built in 1972 as Penn Central 8012 - it most recently wore UP 448 before heading to its new assignment in Durand MI. The following day at the Centralia Diesel shop, he reported GTW 5821 and CN 2133 awaiting light and number board installation, and BRC 211 genset at NRE in Mount Vernon, IL.
On December 17th George clicked GTW GP38-2 5821 fresh out of the Centralia paint shop and parked near the engine facility. The unit is shown missing lights and number boards but was completed, prepped and in service at press time.
http://www.trainweb.org/emdloco/7354.htm On December 8th George Redmond shot the following newly released C40-8’s 2101 and 2104 at the CN engine facility in Centralia, Illinois. The same day he noted three UP Armour Yellow units at Centralia: CN 2119, 2110, and another, 2109 down by the coal chute.
Earlier in the month, George clicked units CN 2101 (12/2/10), CN 2104 (12/1/10) and UP liveried CN 2102 (12/1/10) outside the engine facility in various stages of the Centralia Shop cab upgrade and CN repaint process.
On November 26th, Jeff Robertson caught CN A411 departing Jasper, Alberta out of the south yard while the VIA "Canadian" rests at the station.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=346981&nseq=260
During December, 13 Illinois Central SD70's, IC 1000-1005, 1007-1012 and 1015 were moved to Quality Rail in East St. Louis, IL, to receive DP modifications. So far IC 1000, 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, 1007 and 1008* (CN painted on 5/2010), have been completed and returned to service. Note the red DP marker above the left ditch light in Chris Bodkin's photo Eventually all 36 IC SD70's (from series 1000-1039), will be modified and out of service for several weeks for their upgrades. Note: IC SD70’s 1006,1013, 1014 and 1023 all wrecked/retired in a 2005 Mississippi IC/BNSF head-on on the Illinois Central. Joe Ferguson provided these shots of all four SD70’s that were wrecked and scrapped.
IC SD 70 IC 1008 was the first released from Quality Rail in December 2010, was painted in CN livery at the Woodcrest Shop in May 2010 - and wears the telltale fat cab numerals. (Marc Malenkoff).
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2061111 Another shot of IC SD70 1008 after DP upgrade at Quality Rail and shown in service December 18th (Chris Bodkin).
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2339933
Class leader SD70 IC 1000, still in her black death star scheme is seen with her new red marker lamp above the left ditch light after the distributed power hardware was recently installed at Quality Rail. 36 locos of this class reportedly will be painted over into CN uniforms, as IC 1008 was in May 2010 @ Woodcrest. Captured December 27th mid-consist in train X347 by Henry Nye at Neenah WI.
Here is a nice shot of an IC SD70 as they look in original IC paint: (Ed Hopson).
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=24256
On December 17th Ken reported retired CN GMD1m 1403, and SW1200RS 7306 arrived at Markham Yard for the CN auction which has now ended. CN 5335 was with them, but as far as we know has not been retired yet. Before the move, Jesse Acorn clicked retired CN 1403 stored in the Edmonton, AB dead-line 10/31/2010.
On December 7th Ken noted the following locomotives at Woodcrest Shop: IC E9Au’s 100 and 101 were being moved around the south side of the Shop with B&LE SD40-3 904 sitting just outside near by. In December IC 9602 was assigned to the 2010 CN Santa Train, with one of the E-units on the other end. IC 3103, which is still sporting the IC color scheme (Black with white frame striping) was the power for CN Test Train December 7th at Markham Yard (Chicago) pulling cars 15007 (box), and IC observation car 15008. IC 3133 in CN colors was switching the yard mated with an EJ&E SD38-2. YPRCN (392`s connection) from UP’s (ex-CNW) Proviso Yard arrived with CN C40-8 2124 leading and wearing the CN’s 15-Years livery. (Ken Lanovich)
Mike Garza took these shots of the CN/IC 2010 Santa Train departing Markham southbound on December 10th. The sleek IC E9 is seen on one end with IC GP38-2 9602 looking outstanding leading the handsome passenger consist here.
On November 27th, Gerry Miller clicked GTW GP38 5844 in the yard at Dubuque, IA.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=348402 After record snowfalls in the US Midwest trains and crews had to plow through huge drifts on their way to Ontario. Walter Pfefferle caught CN 392 with CN 2112 leading 2680 as it fought its way through Beachville Ontario on December 13th. CN 396 was not far behind with BCOL 4602 leading CN 5500 as it crawled its way through Woodstock Ontario.
CN RDC (Track Evaluation Budd) 1501 tested on the EJ&E mainline between Joliet, and Kirk Yard on December 8th, and Ken reported GTW GP38-2 4901 working the Kirk yard to Chicago Heights local (L514) the same day. In early December William Beecher caught Budd RDC 1501 at Ackerville (Waukesha Sub) in the hole waiting on a northbound, with the WSOR Milwaukee job alongside. He later spotted it plying the rails of the Chicago Terminal, shot in the Chicago suburb Forest Park at Madison Street.
Terry Redecker clicked CN GP40-2LW 9515 sporting fresh CN paint in Memphis. TN December 4th.
http://tkredeker.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2328302
The current CN roster of active SD40-2(W)’s stands at 75 units out of the 123 locomotives the railway acquired. The numbers are: 5242, 5244 5245 5246 5250 5258 5261 5262 5263 5264 5265 5266 5267 5268 5269 5270 5272 5273 5274 5275 5276 5277 5279 5280 5281 5283 5284 5286 5287 5288 5289 5291 5293 5295 5296 5298 5299 5303 5304 5305 5316 5317 5318 5319 5320 5321 5322 5323 5325 5326 5328 5329 5330 5331 5335 5336 5337 5338 5339 5340 5341 5343 5345 5346 5347 5348 5349 5350 5351 5352 5354 5356 5357 5358 5362. CN 5244 at Burnaby, BC Nov 22 2010 by Mark Forseille.
The most recently retired SD40-2W’s are: 5241 5248 5249 5251 5260 5252 5254 5257 5259 5271 5290 5301 5302 5307 5310 5312 5315 5324 5327 5334 5342 5353 5359 5361 5363 (All retired between 2007-2010 with various mechanical problems) .
Nick Hart found CN 2123 making some switching moves in Joliet on December 17th At South Rowell Avenue in Joliet Nick photographed C40-8 2123 leading M390 up the grade bound for the former GTW mainline in Griffith, IN.
On December 18th, (former ATSF) CN C40-8W 2151 was seen in the CN yard at Du Quoin, Il. the unit was not running. (George Redmond Photo).
Note the cab different sized numbers on CN 2117 and 2124. Woodcrest Shop applied numbers look about 25-33% thicker than digits applied at Centralia. See attached photos by George Redmond: (Thanks to Ken. Ed and George)
1819 - to Societe de Chemins de Fer de Gaspesie (Sold by NBEC) 1835 - Still for sale by CN and not sold to the ADCR as previously reported. Societe de Chemins de Fer de Gaspesie (Sold by NBEC) Societe de Chemins de Fer de Gaspesie (Sold by CN).
CN GP9RM 7207 has been sitting in the deadline at Walker yard for the last year slowly stripped of parts As can be seen the windshield is missing, as is the door and headlight. (Jesse Acorn)
On December 8th Ron Visockis clicked CN liveried BCOL C40-8M 4618 on #149, and CN SD70M-2 8924 heading E-B back on November 1st, both shots taken at Belleville, ON.
William Beecher caught IC GP40R 3133 in this intermodal scene at Schiller Park; recently assigned to switching northwest Chicago in her CN livery.
With the unit looking a little road weary Norm Shapland captured the uniquely painted GP40-2 WC 3027 leading in Edmonton, AB November 6th. This loco and WI Sesquicentennial Map sister 3026 - (both with ex-Milwaukee Road) have been working Alberta assignments since mid-2010. These were shopped at Woodcrest (Homewood IL) thru mid-May 2010 prior to their appearance north of the border, and the second photo shows how she looked when fresh.
http://www.canadianrailwayobservations.com/2011/jan11/wc3027normshapland.htm
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=44600 December 11th William Beecher caught a former Tunnel Motor in this super lash-up: CN 2677, CN 5553, CN 2227, CN 2130, CN 2106, with the B&LE SD40-3 906 on the tail end. B&LE 906 is shown “running” on the CN Neenah Sub, northbound at Van Dyne. WI, following upgrades in the Woodcrest Shop, including Orinco brake gear. On December 23rd, B&LE SD40T-3 900 was outside Woodcrest Shop being tested and will have returned up to the DM&IR by press time.
Joseph Bishop submitted his photo of CN GMD1m 1412 moving through Brantford, Ontario on October 24th, 2010.
Last month, CN announced the construction of a new multi-modal steel trans-loading facility in Chicago, Illinois. This new facility will be located at the Port of Chicago on roughly 190 acres of land located on the Lake Front sub around 10 miles from Kirk Yard and about 13 miles south of downtown Chicago. The facility will offer producers multi-modal transportation options including, rail, truck, intermodal container, inland barge and ocean-going boat for steel coil, sheet, plate, bar, structural, pipe and tube products, as well as dimensional loads and heavy equipment. CN estimated that the trans-loading compound could start receiving customers as early as January 2011. The railway will serve the facility directly. Also, CN recently announced the acquisition of 200 standard gondolas and 200 more open coil gondolas to expand and improve the quality of its freight car fleet that serves the steel industry in Canada and the U.S.
A listing of current CN Letter Codes which prefix the CN Train number:
A- 400 series short haul freight B- 700/300 series potash trains C- 700 series coal trains E- 200 series priority freight/automotive F- foreign detours/running rights G- 800 series grain trains H- CPR, shared running K- 500 series transfer runs L- 500 series locals M- 300 series long haul freight P- 001-099/600 series passenger (VIA) Q- 100 series intermodal R- 900 series road switchers (Illinois Central) S- 700 series sulphur trains U- 700 series units trains other than potash, coal, sulphur W- work trains X- extra trains CN Vignettes:Great Shot! (From the collection of Art Peterson via Jim Brown and LBC with thanks). Only info Art has on the location is that it’s between Toronto and Montreal, possiblt Brockville on Nov 27, 1957.
Arnold Mooney submitted this vignette from May 1st, 1977, standing where an old MoW structure used to be. It was a good spot because one could be on the south side of the tracks here and be safely back enough from the rails. Today this location is socked right in with foliage, rendering it an impossible shot, as are so many other locations along this line. Note the people up on Dundas Peak taking in the view. This lookout is even more popular today. CN GP9’s 4585, 4516, 4563 and 4560 lead this westbound early afternoon train.
First delivered from GMDD in 1985 as model “SD60AF”, (one of four) Pierre Fournier clicked one year old #9900 at St-Leonard, QC on the Drummondville Subdivision on 17/5/86 leading CN train 207. The CN 9900 9903 number series existed for only 3 years and in 1988 these four SD60AF's were renumbered to the 5500-series as they still are today.
Peter Cox submitted these three shots from 50 years ago: GTW F3A 9007 in 1964; CN Crane #50359 was the centre-piece of the Winnipeg auxiliary work train back in 1963,.and is seen here in fresh paint sporting the brand new CN noodle; CNR GP9 4103 leads the overnight train to Regina past Subway on its way out of Winnipeg. Note all the head-end express cars on this train.
The class unit CN SD40 #5000, is shown at the CP yard at Port Coquitlam, BC on August 19th 2005. Mark Forseille recorded the unit which is now sadly scrapped.
© CRO January 2011 |
