Enroute to the Saturday Locomotive Servicing (SLSX) are ex-ARNAUD RAILWAY RS18’s temporarily numbered MDXX 910 and 911. They will be repaired and prepared at the Saturday Locomotive Servicing shops for leasing to prairie regional shortlines and will retain their MDXX reporting marks for now. Iwo more. MDXX RS18 908 and 909 are being picked up by CN and forwarded as well from their barge service to Sept Iles, QC. . On November 9th, Francois Gagne Audet poised himself near the CN bridge on the shore of Rivière-Chaudière, and photographed CN 401 departing West Jct in Saint-Rédempteur, QC. His photo shows in the CN consist and dead in tow behind CN C44-8W 2579 are the two former Arnaud Railway RS18’s. bound for Saskatchewan.
Mark A. Perry snapped CCGX GP9RM 4119 on a CEMR yard job, moving through the Winnipeg suburb of Transcona, MB on November 13th. It was transferring cars from the CEMR’s yard in North Transcona to CN’s Symington Yard.
It's hard to believe that it's been over two years since the public was informally introduced to Ontario Northland's new "arrow" paint scheme. Mike Robin shot ONR GP38-2 1809 on September 17th, 2011, at Cochrane, ON. ONR 1809 was the first locomotive to receive the 'futuristic' paint scheme, is prepped to lead the following day's southbound 422/222 Northlander.
A view of the tail end of Ontario Northland's Christmas Train in daylight surroundings captured on Cochrane Shop's 4 track December 12, 2012. Pictured is van ONT 123 which is pulled from any sort of active service, repainted, and is used as part of a permanent "Christmas Train" configuration. The two other cars pulled from service and used exclusively for the train are a 4000 series i-beam and a 7000 series plug door box (Mike Robin)
As Christmas caroling and visits with Santa are in full swing a couple of cars back, GP38-2 1809 with her new paint job and symphony of Christmas lights shines brightly on the main at Cochrane in December 2011. See the 2013 Christmas Train schedule at:
http://www.onrgallery.com/christmas2012.htm
Walter Pfefferle snapped OSR 383 and 378 departing Beachville, ON November 2nd.
In November, Lambton Diesel Specialists (LDS) released GEXR GP40-2LW 3030 in fresh G&W Family paint. Chad Smith photographed her in mid-November. The unit is former RMPX 9431, nee CN 9431, and new to the GEXR fleet.
Former CN 9431 became RMPX 9431, and was then leased to SOR in Hamilton, ON. As reported above RMPX 3031 was recently sold to GWI to become GEXR 3030, Here are some “before” photos by James Gardiner and Joseph Bishop.
GEXR 3821 is earmarked for rebuild at the GWI Diesel Shop in St. Albans, VT during January and February 2014. The loco will receive a new generator, wiring, full GWI paint and new road number.
Coming from National Steel Car in Hamilton are TRGX hoppers and TBOX 7538 cu. ft. boxcars. On November 4, covered hoppers (LO) sighted at Aldershot for shipping were (4900 cu. ft.) CNPX 001050 and 001049 (grey with black CanPotex & green logo) and (5800 cu. ft.) TRGX 854762 and 854737 (grey with a black 'Richardson')
Coming past Gary Knap to a full atop the stepladder on the rear of the Orford Express is the only remaining example of an M42oTR (ex- Roberval-Saguenay) #26! The M40TR is a very unique looking engine. Originally built in Montreal by MLW for Roberval & Saguenay Railway in Northern Quebec, only two were constructed. I waited and shot the unit returning past this location leading eastbound but concluded this was a more attractive angle to share. A very attractive excursion train! Special thanks again to Frank Jolin! Shot at Foster, Quebec at 19:15 on October 25th.
The MM&A crude oil train that had been stranded at Farnham, QC ever since the since the July 6th Lac-Mégantic tragedy, finally left for Montreal. The consist was then interchanged with CN on November 10th, and then was forwarded as CN U702 east to Saint John NB. Francois Jolin snapped the train ennrout6e at east of Farnam and on the CP bridge to Montreal at Lasalle, QC.
At St-Eugène, QC, The same MM&A train, now Canadian National oil train #U702 heads for Saint John NB with the rerouted MM&A consist that was stranded at Farnham, QC since July 6th in the aftermath of the Lac-Mégantic disaster. The locos are CN 8888, CN 2599 and CN 2631. (Framcois Jolin photo).
CANADIAN TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD Lac Megamtic, Montteal Maine and Atlantic Railway Investigation to date:
http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/enquetes-investigations/rail/2013/R13D0054/R13D0054.asp
Last month a pair of Progress Rail (ex-UP) SD40T-2’s PRLX 2833 and 2856 arrived at the (ex-Ultramar) Valero Oil Refinery near Levis, QC. However Valero had refused to accept the pair, and as of mid-November, they remained stored at CN Joffre Yard. (John Young photo)
CSX power in Montreal.... CN 327 (and its eastbound counterpart, CN 326) almost always have pure CSX power as they run through to CSX and pick up a CSX crew in Huntingdon, QC. Here CSX 5208 (GE ES40DC) & CSX 908 (GE ES44AH) lead CN 327 westbound through Dorval. Photo taken Nov. 19th. (Photo by Michael Berry).
At Taschereau Yard on November 10th, Richard Marchis clicked two of the former Arnaud (Wabush Lake Railway) RS18’s lettered MDXX 911 and MDXX 910 and destined to Saskatchewan.
VIGNETTES:
John Young photographed these colourful Québec Central locomotives at Vallée Jonction, QC back in 2001.
On November 2nd, Matt Landry caught HLCX 911 leading a six-unit eastbound New Brunswick Southern freight, just east of Fredericton Jct, New Brunswick.
© CRO October 2013