Summary of EMDI deliveries during April 2011:During the month of April 26 new SD70ACes were shipped from London plant. In order 20106377 13 Norfolk Southern SD70ACes 1004-1005, 1013-1024 left CN London East via Sarnia and Flat Rock to NS Bellevue. In order 20106395 13 Ferromex SD70ACes, FXE 4015-4027 were delivered to CN London East. UP SD60MX 9905 and 9909 were spotted at both CN London East and inside the plant. The last five JT42CWRM units in order 20078968 for Akiem 96801(-001), 96803(-003), 96804(-004), 96806(-006) & 96807(-007) (all stamped 10-2008) were loaded onto JumboShip FAIRLANE at Halifax on or about April 2. They arrived at Rotterdam on April 21 and unloading began on April 24. Some background about Dillen & Le Jeune Cargo, CrossRail Benelux and Akiem: Dillen & Le Jeune Cargo (DLC) was formed in 2003 by two Belgian principals, one surnamed Dillen and the other, Le Jeune. In 2008 they merged into Crossrail A.G. The financial crisis of 2008 caused Dillen to sell his shares and retire. His shares were bought by Hupac which made them 25% owner of Crossrail. CrossRail Benelux still exists and is what is called a Train Operating Company (TOC) and it still operate container and other contracted freight trains in Belgium. But the company is separate from Akiem. At the end of 2008, Societe Nationale des Chemins de Fer Francais (SNCF) created a new subsidiary for locomotive leasing named Akiem - a name, not individual ititials - see www.akiem.com. SNCF locomotives which are underutilised will become available for lease via Akiem. In addition to the London-built JT42CWRMs, other electrics and diesel-electrics, part of the fleet of 80 Traxx locomotives delivered by Bombardier from 2010 will be part of this lease fleet. In the beginning, 233 locomotives worth EUR 430 Million were reported transferred. Their number will increase to 400 by 2013, according to SNCF. The unbranded grey, yellow-ended livery is the Akiem colours. Akiem 'bought out' [2] the JT42CWRM order(s) built in London [3] from CrossRail Benelux - but not the company. Akiem leasing has already begun ... a recent issue of the magazine 'Rail Passion', a monthly French language magazine, reported VFLI are now leasing seven "Class 77s" from Akiem but it reads as though they were all in action for VFLI by the beginning of March. Unfortunately there's no detail on which locos are involved - so far... [1] Yet another change of name reflecting the change of owners: On February 9, 2011 Electro-Motive Diesel International Corp.(EMDIC) was formed in order to align critical functions and re-organize the legal structure of the organization to place EMDIC as the parent company of both Electro-Motive Diesel Inc. (EMDI) as well as Progress Rail Manufacturing Corporation.(PRMC) [2] ... or at least 'taken over' by Akiem, but just how is unclear. Akiem may have bought out CrossRail's interest in the contract, or simply taken it over by agreement with all parties. [3] The London built JT42WR & JT42WRM orders which now should be part of the Akiem fleet include: 4 in order 20078920 (nos. DLC 6310 to 6313) shipped in 2008 3 in order 20078941 (nos. Veolia 77501 to 77503) shipped in 2009 7 in order 20078968 (temp nos. DLC 986001 to 986007) shipped in 2010 & 2011 4 in order 20088076 (nos. DLC 7601 to 7604) shipped in 2010
Thanks to Mike Hunt, John Patston, Doug Cummings and Today’s Railways - Europe EMD news in May: Walter Pfefferle caught brand new Ferromex SD70Ace’s 4031 and 4032 as well as one of the
Bruce Douglas photographed this line up of 17 FXE (Ferromex) and QNS&L SD70Ace’s in various stages of completion outside the London Plant on the GEXR in Stratford, Ontario on May 24th, 2011. Three are fully painted FXE, one painted with no lettering. The three QNS&L’s were just frame and motor with other FXE’s were in grey primer. This high security area is off limits to railfans, so we appreciate receiving Bruce’ s shots.
Trails of the SAR (Saudi) mineral trains began last month issuing their new EMD-built locomotives. and we received these photos by Peter Watts via Heather Fear.
EMDI-built new PTKA units for Sumatra, Indonesia, GT38ACe 20.501 to 20.506 were released from London on May 17th. With builder's serial nos. 20108996-01 to 20108996-06, they arrived at CN MacMillan Yard as a string of export units on flat cars, intermixed with other regular cars acting as idlers. On
© CRO June 2011 |
