On May 8th, Wayne D. Shaw took this great shot of CN SD70M-2 8957 leading train Q112 southbound at Mile 88.9 on the CN Bala Sub, Washago, Ontario 

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=362820

With his train safely stopped, Patrick De Larue took a moment to capture these railroader POV shots on Montreal’s Victoria Bridge:   With Pat’s train CN M30921-11 on the left, VIA P01511-10 passes on the south track bound for Central Station  March 11, 2007;  From the cab Pat clicked CN A40021-25 taking the crossover  at the Montreal end of Victoria Bridge April 25, 2004;  The bottom photo shows CN X31921-16 on May 18, 2007 entering the east end of Victoria Bridge at Longueuil, Quebec (west of bridge span #15 … Patrick considers Montreal).  In this view, the junction for the double track bypass  is visible, used when the main bridge is raised to allow a ship pass through.

 WARNING:  This location is dangerous and off limits to railfans!  Only CN employees or authorized workers have access to the railway bridge.

At Parry Sound, Ontario Jordan Coseni took this great shot of CN Work Train W90831 on May 1st.  CN 5631, 2404 and 2438 are shown rounding the curve at CN Reynolds, with an Alco-like smoke plume from the Dash 8-40CM’s.

CN E44DC 2263 has received interior and exterior modifications for diesel engine emissions testing.  The first tests have been in captive service between Toronto-North Bay, Ontario on trains 450 and 451 (This may change), and is  positioned trailing the lead power with a rider presumably monitoring the locomotive.  Some of the visual modifications include a large hump on the top of the long hood behind the cab, and a repaint of the hood doors in the prime mover area.

CN suffered a sideswipe incident in Battle Creek, Michigan in early May involving a SHPX Centre-Flo hopper and CN C44-9W 2685.

LOCOMOTIVES RETIRED:

Over the last three months, the following CN units were retired with their precise retirement date unknown:

CN Slug 272  (Retired Spring 2011)

CN GP9RM’s 7007, 7045, 7259  (All retired Spring 2011)

IC SW14 1501  (Retired Spring 2011).

 LOCOMOTIVES SOLD: In April, CN sold EJE SW1200 322, 302, 306, 316 and CN SW1200RS 7303, and 7306.  All were sent to the NRE Paducah, KY repair shop and renumbered (in the order above) to GMTX 500, 501, 502, 506, 507 and 508.  In mid-May, they had all been forwarded to UP in Memphis, TN.

Former WC/Alstom SD40-3`s 6909, 6919, 6922, 6925, and 6939, relettered to Aberdeen Carolina & Western (ACWR), were noted in-transit on CSX passing through Tennessee on May 13th.  This railroad has a sizeable roster of former CN units

All 19 GCFX GTW SD40-3’s 5938-5956 and ex-KCS 6600-6620 will be going to Metro-East Industries in East St. Louis, IL for storage and or repairs.   George Redmond noted five of the former GTW (ex-Alstom) SD40-3's were lashed together with their GTW cab lettering and CN hood Noodles painted over in grey paint.  The lease on GCFX 5938-5956 inclusive expired April 1st 2011 and 5948, 5949, 5950, 5953 and 5954 were the first of this group of SD40-3’s prepared for return to the leasor GCFX.  On May 12th these units were in Du Quoin, IL awaiting a trip to E. St. Louis on train #L546 with EJE 670 and GTW 5840 to do the honors.   Trailing them were GTW 5948, GTW 5949, GTW 5950, GTW 5951, GTW 5953, GTW 5954 with all CN and GTW markings removed. 

On May 7th former WC/GCFX SD40-3 6944 was spotted in transit  through Minnesota relettered for Northshore Mining (NMSX 662).  Generally, the Northshore Mining units are captive geographically, and the lease has now ended on their NREX SD40-2's and SD40-3's.  Northshore Mining own their rebuilt SD28's, and now will have three ex-WC/GCFX SD40-3’s (6903, 6928, 6944) now renumbered NMSX 660, 661 and 662.  At press time we had not confirmed if these were purchased, or only leased from GCFX.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/18171644@N03/5700287745/in/photostream

CRO US Coordinator Ed Weisensel compiled the following list of  stored locomotives at the Woodcrest Shop in Homewood, Illinois on May 7th.   Ed and Henry Nye walked the perimeter for hours in order to get these locomotive numbers, and we certainly want to thank them for obtaining his pertinent information for our CRO readers.  Most do appear to be serviceable (SS), but we cannot confirm which are unserviceable (SUS) only from these photos.  According to a source, the rear tracks containing some of the GTW 59xx-series, the BCOL quartet, and IC 1507 and 1491 are typically "finished" tracks for the outgoing power. In other words – Locos parked here had been in need mechanical attention, and now the repair work has been completed.  The units seen were:  

BCOL B39-8E: 3901, 3902, 3903, 3905, 3906, 3907, 3908, 3909, 3910, 3911.

 CN: 5291, 5318, 7008, 5283, 5685, 1375, 5348.

 SFEX C424m 4204. (An ex-OCRR/NBEC MLW rebuilt/upgraded)

 B&LE 878, 907

 E&JE 656, 665, 675, 669, 672

 GTW SD40-3’s (ex-Alstom in grey paint) 5938, 5939, 5940, 5941, 5942, 5944, 5945, 5946, 5947, 5952, 5955, 5956.

 GTW 5937, (CNNA-paint) 5930, (CNNA) 5932, (CNNA) 5934, (CN)

5933, (GTW) 4921, (Operation Lifesaver) 6401. 

 IC 1491, 1507, 1509, 1511, 9562, 9628

 WC 1552 (CN), WC 1560, 3004, 3006, 3010, 3018 and 3021.

 CN SD75I 5731, SD40-2W 5335, SD70M-2 8018 are in service, but were seen coupled-up next to the storage lines. 

 Henry Nye (and Ed) took the following storage line shots at the Woodcrest Shop in  Homewood, Il on May 7th 2011 “National Train Day”.  Note that one of the CN 15 years decorated C40-8’s (#2128) is out of service, its hood on a flat car!

Wm. Beecher Jr. submitted his shots of the stored locomotives in the CN Woodcrest- North and South Lots.  After obtaining permission, he took photos up above from the Markham Yard Trainmasters office.  

In early May, William Beecher Jr. caught possibly the last MLW-built locomotive still stored at the Woodcrest Shop, SFEX-Eastern Rail Service (ex-OCRR, Nee-CP) rebuilt C424M #4204.  (Her previous liveries (OCRR and CP RAIL) are on the links)

http://www.mountainrailway.com/Roster%20Archive/CP%204200/OCRR%204204-1.jpg

http://www.mountainrailway.com/Roster%20Archive/CP%204200/CP%204204-2.jpg

William also took these roster shots of  not yet in service CN C40-8W 2188 at Fond du Lac destined to Winnipeg, Manitoba for finishing, and CN SD70I 5620 in clean paint at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin in May.

On May 15th, D. Kwarciany caught paired CN C40-8’s in the 15 years scheme (2107-2112) with ore train on the CN (DMIR) Missabe Sub, at Iron Junction, Minnesota.

 http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=363598&nseq=7

George Redmond clicked these GE news photos at the CN engine facility in Centralia, Il May 13th:  Ex-BNSF C40-8W’s CN 2099 and CN 2157 in fresh paint are prepped for service.  Parked next to 2099, is the last ex-UP C40-8 to be repainted CN 2109, still awaiting installation of a hard-to-get part and not yet in service. 

George Redmond clicked CN 2147 in Centralia in April 14th

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2491499

A good clip of CN train 332 with CN Dash 8-40CM 2400 and (CN patch ex-BNSF C40-8W 2195 at Bayview Junction, Ontario: http://youtu.be/inSoFo9Oua4

 On her first trip from Chicago in CN paint C40-8W 2147 arrived in Toronto Dead in Tow on May 21st.  Earlier in the month on May 7th CN 2147 and 2109 had not yet entered service and are seen sitting outside Centralia Shop missing headlights, ditch lights, number boards etc. (Photo by Mitchell Shultheis)

 http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2525660

Noted in May at the Symington Shop in Winnipeg were CN C40-8 2100, 2118, and C40-8W 2144, 2188. The four out of service GE’s are destined for the Transcona Shop (also in Winnipeg, MB) where CN repairs most of their GE fleet.

Moving from Baie Comeau, Quebec to the RELCO repair shop in Albia, Iowa, Chris Wilson caught SOPOR GP8 6055  (ex-CR, nee Erie-GP7) passing Newtonville, Ontario May 15th on CN M30511 14  (manifest from Moncton, NB - Toronto MacMillan Yard), with 114 cars.  The consist was CN 2248 (ES44DC) ** 6055 (GP8 in SOPOR paint) -48 mixed- **BCOL 4650 (C44-9W) -41 mixed/25 racks

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v406/CP9102/IMG_1468.jpg

CN has begun testing trains 120/121, 305/308 with up to 14,000 foot (200-car) consists  in and out of Moncton, NB.. The use of DPU 12,000 foot trains on 120/121, 305/308 had been the norm down this way and  certain sidings will have to be lengthened.  Daily freight train 305 originates at Moncton and daily 308 terminates at Moncton. The Halifax-Brampton #121 was 13378ft (201 cars) on May 26 (Frank Jolin photos). 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31145333@N02/5763006417/in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31145333@N02/5763553508/in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31145333@N02/5763554164/in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31145333@N02/5763008357/in/photostream

In early May, CN track geometry evaluation Budd car 1501 was mildly damaged after hitting a  pickup truck moving east at the Riddell Ave crossing in Ottawa, ON.  The single RDC was traveling north between Dunrobin Road and March Valley Road May 3rd.  Both the driver and passenger in the pickup escaped with only minor injuries.  Brad Morocco clicked the Budd back in service two days later near Burlington on the Oakville Sub. 

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=362560&nseq=99

In mid-May, two yard jobs ran into each other at the west end of the main classification yard in Sarnia, Ontario blocking all the yard leads.

The through track closest to the station stayed open, and trains were getting through. Chris vanderHeide submitted these great shots:

http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=398

http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=397

CN 393 passing the wreck:

http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=399

In May, CN made some changes in the following train schedules: M37091-xx originates in Champaign Ill. and operates through to MacMillan Yard in Toronto daily except Thursday and Friday.

M39491-xx ex Joliet Ill. only operates to Sarnia on the days M37091-xx goes to Toronto. On the 2 days a week 370 doesn't go to Toronto, 394 runs through to Mac Yard. The X37121-xx that often operates from Montreal to Toronto handling mostly auto empties has nothing to do with the 371 on the Michigan Div. That is train M37161-xx and runs from Battle Creek MI westward. Also of note, Q14921-xx is no longer handling any freight between Toronto and Chicago owing to increased intermodal volumes.

 On April 19th Andre St-Amant clicked CN 461 at MP 60 on the CN Joliette sub in Charette, QC on its way to Montreal, with lone SD70M-2 8821 pulling 58 cars.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=362877

Andy Cassidy caught SD60F’s 5557, 5552, 5541,and IC SD70 1011 are seen on the east track at Piper, BC, (mile 148.2 on the New Westminster Sub) heading south to Thorton. CN on April 29^th. 

Sad News:  CN Z-1-a Box Cab 6712 is likely to be cut up for scrap.  Stored in the Town of Mount Royal under a tarp for many years it was put up for sale this year.  The only bidder was a scrap dealer! (Alex Tipaldos and Jon Roma photos)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellergraham/4516805870/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellergraham/347312419/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonroma/882335570/

 CN VIGNETTES:

Ron Visockis photographed great looking CN C424 3232 in the full noodle scheme, in Montreal, QC, on March 20th, 1984.  41 graced the CN roster and 51 C424’s were purchased by competitor CP. 

My favourite CN video….. Watch and “Listen” to a GMDD SD40 and BBD HR616 power a freight out of town!  AWESOME!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw7BSdU7wCQ

Classic images of the CN Central station at the north (tunnel) end and south (viaduct) end. In the south shot the paved area on the left now has two AMT (EMU electric) tracks on it, with all catenary removed from the four tracks on the right side (VIA/ AMT Diesel side). The north view is no longer possible to see as this area is now covered over by office buildings and the Central Station concourse.  

In March 1979, Douglas Leffler photographed these two GTW detour trains passing the station at Jackson, Michigan.  Interesting  to see the  hooped up train orders to front and tail end crew, and catching US Bicentennial painted GTW GP38AC 1776.

Wayne Shaw clicked (Agawa Canyon Tour Train) in this one-of-a-kind paint scheme on CN 633 in October 2010. Ex-SKTX Power Car 253, ex-DRGW 253 SGU (1965), ex-DRGW 6002 PB-1 (19??), ex-DRGW 600B PB-1 It's been painted this way since it was acquired in 2007. It was used on the regular train to Hearst with 3 HEP-equipped coaches that were acquired at the same time for the regular train. The former CN/VIA coaches that the ex-Ski Train set replaced on the Canyon tour train was not HEP equipped  (Chris van der Heide via CRO Facebook). 

© CRO June2011