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SHORTLINES, REGIONALS & INDUSTRIALS
LOUIS-DREYFUS: GMTX 3302, a former BN
SD40-2 8097 now de-turbo’d to SD38-2 status, switches the Louis Dreyfus canola
plant on the west side of Yorkton, Saskatchewan on August 24th, 2015. "Western
Pride", as the engine is dubbed, arrived at the plant for switching duties in
the fall of 2014. (David Maiers photo).
On August 23rd, Duncan
A.R. McInnis photographed CRGX 602 at Elm Creek in Manitoba.
J&L
CONSULTING (JLCX): Here is the September JLCX round-up: JLCX 1202 is on lease
to VITERRA JLCX 2509 is in
Assiniboia, SK for repairs JLCX 3510 is shipping to MIDWEST LOCO from Toronto Mac Yard along with JLCX 2000 and 2001. In Vancouver, Washington on August 16th Shawn Heller clicked RLPX 3541 and JLCX 2886 parked together down at the port in the morning sun. 2886 is leased to united grain. J&L Consulting sent JLCX 1344 in August to replace JLCX 2886, which is now is destined for LONG CREEK RAILWAY.
CANADIAN NATIONAL: Looking like a blast from the Prairies of the past, on June 28th, 2015 we see CN GMD1 1400 emerging out of the locomotive smoke with a heavy cut of cars. The elderly GMD was switching out cars at a few of the businesses along the route, where Kevin Cameron happened to catch her.
CANADIAN PACIFIC: Old school CP SD40-2 6045 and 6050 are heading westbound on CP's Wynyard Subdivision light engine move to Yorkton, Saskatchewan to switch out the Canola plant. Photographed by David Maiers at Bredenbury, Saskatchewan on September 20th, 2015. Both engines wear the later version of CP Rail's multi-mark scheme. Bredenbury remains a hotspot for SD40-2’s, with several assigned there for switching of the potash mines to the south of the terminal, and on the Yorkton Switcher.
The Alberta Prairie Railway in Stettler, AB have repainted and lettered APXX GMD1m 1118 at Stettler, AB.: They acquired GMD1 1118 to haul their excursion train from Stettler to Big Valley, AB., when not operating their steam engine No. 41. The engine was built in 1958 as CNR 1018 and went through various ownerships after 1997 (Canadian Railserve, Central Western Railway, CNR again who retired it in 2006). We caught it in the rain at Stettler on September 6th, 2015. (Cor van Steenis)
RICHARDSON-PIONEER: Richardson Pioneer No. 001 is seen sitting silently at Yorkton, Saskatchewan on August 4th, 2015. Having worn white for years, this switcher was just recently repainted in an orange-red scheme similar to the company’s grain elevators. According to the CTG: Built in 12/1955 as NYC SW900 9632, to NYC 8632, to PC 8632, to CR 8632, to DLSX 001 to Pioneer Grain 001. (Photo by David Maiers of Roblin, Manitoba).
Andy Cassidy submitted the following shots: We were driving around the bowels of Surrey, BC and I made my way down Timberland Road on the SRY Fraser Surrey Spur. This is in the area of BNSF’s Brownsville. Way down at the end of the road is a turnaround, and a spot where the SRY park local yard power that works the area. I figure it’s around mile 1.80 on the SRY Fraser Surrey Spur. On this day two SRY switchers were sitting idle there. The SRY 906 (GMD SW900), was sitting on the East entrance track to Fraser Surrey Docks. This is one of the stalwarts of the SRY fleet and has been on there since 1958 and still going strong.
The other unit sitting idle there was the SRY 1202 (GMD GMD1). This is one of a handful of Ex CN GMD1m’s that SRY purchased back in 2005. It, along with the others, didn’t last long at SRY. This units was sold to J&L Consulting in 2014 and was recently working the Vancouver waterfront on lease to one of the grain handlers there.
MOBIL GRAIN LTD: Spotted back on July 4th, 2015 we see a Mobil Grain SD40-2 No.3147 holding the line just outside of Saskatoon, passing right beside the Saskatchewan Rail museum! (Kevin Cameron photo)
ONTARIO
ONTARIO SOUTHLAND RAILWAY (OSR): Walter Pfefferle was able to catch this outstanding Lashup: Ontario Southland Railway ran their trio of FP9Au’s all coupled together led by their newly painted F-unit! On September 17th, OSRX 6508, and back to back OSRX 1400 - 1401 were shot at Beachville, with a train of Autorack’s on the CAMI job.
Ontario Southland Railway had their trio of FP9Au’s as trio of Covered Wagons together for the first time on September 16th, at Woodstock, ON With 6508 in her new TH&B inspired uniform!
After picking up cars at Putnam and Ingersoll, the OSR Woodstock Job is heading to Woodstock to interchange with CP, as it leaves Ingersoll. Power is a pair of vintage GMD products in matching Ontario Southland Railway paint: GP9u 1620 and FP9Au 6508. Michael Berry took this great shot on September 4th, at Ingersoll, Ontario on the St. Thomas Sub.
On September 11th, the OSR local showed up with a lash up out of the norm. ZTR was out testing CEFX GP38-3 6537 along with recent repaint OSRX FP9Au 6508. Walter Pfefferle caught the train departing Beachville Ontario, after dropping off some rail cars. CEFX 6537 was originally an EMD-built GP35 (SP 7425).
Walter Pfefferle shot Ontario Southland Railway (OSR 383 and 378) crossing the Thames River bridge, returning from W. Coak, after lifting cars for CAMI in Ingersoll, Ontario on August 29th.
Smoke If You Have Them - Here we see OSR 503 RS 23 clearing its throat as it and OSR 1249 head to St Thomas Ontario with a long string of cars. You never get tired of seeing and hearing those 65 year old locomotives still earning their keep. Ingersoll Ontario Sept 24 2015
GODERICH - EXETER RAILWAY (GEXR): Goderich and Exeter SD40-2’s 3393 and 3394 head under the hump tower at CN-MacMillan Yard on September 17th, on their way to pick up their train for Stratford, ON. (Phil Hall Photo).
Here is GEXR SD40-2 3394 in fresh G&W paint at Lambton Diesel Specialist Inc. (LDSX) in Sarnia, ON, back in August.
(GEXR) RLK 4001 was
delivered to CN London East on August 12th, and later reported for transfer to
Southern Ontario Railway (RLHH), In Hamilton. It replaced SOR-RLK 4057 which
suffered an engine failure. The following photos were all submitted by Pat McKie with our thanks. Cloudy skies provide the back drop as Ottawa Valley Railway (OVR) 431 heads west past mile 6.0 on the Cartier Subdivision. RLK 2054 provides the lead power as RLK 3410 sits in the Ontario Northland railway shop for maintenance.
After shoving a string of cars in the yard; RLK 3048 and 3029 roll ahead to the switch before backing and collecting another string of cars making up the freight train from North Bay ON to Temiskaming, QC.
Working between the North Bay yard and Mile one of the Cartier Sub; Pat caught OVR self propelled crane picking up old rail along the main line. Rail sections were collected in late August and placed on the flat bed car.
OVR west bound power sits idle just down from the shop and office. Crews are waiting for the OVR east bound power to sort and build their east bound train. After east bound departure RLK 2054 and RLK 3409 work the from the west end of the yard on August 21st.
SOUTHERN ONTARIO RAILWAY (SOR/RLHH): Walter Pfefferle was in Brantford September 9th to catch G&W (SOR) coming to Brantford switch Ingenias. When he left at 7 am it was raining and got worse until about 10:30. They were already at the plant so waited until they came back. He caught them coming back to the station then heard they had a "hot" car, and had to go down again so he lucked out catching Quebec & Gatineau GP39-2C 2301. It was down for a repaint in G&W colors but looked pretty good at the Brantford station and yard.
ONTARIO NORTHLAND RAILWAY (ONT): A trio of SD40-2's (ONT 1734, 1733 & 1730) are seen here approach the Ontario Northland Station in North Bay September 15 2015.
Summer is slowly coming to an end and ONT 214 Crew pass a pedestrian crossing as ONT 1734 & 1730 returned to North Bay without any freight but did bring back a surprise; ONT 529 Jordan spreader. - August 31 2015
Mike Robin shot classic ONT GP9 1601 (built in 1956), posing alongside APU 205, a former F7B (built in 1951) at the Cochrane Shops on September 3rd.
ONR GP9 1603 is captured along 3 track at Cochrane Shops with APU 204 in the foreground September 9th.
On September 9th, the head end crew (Cody and Shawn) handle some switching of their Maintenance of Way freight consist at Cochrane with Ontario northland GP38-2 1802 before heading off to Kapuskasing, ON.
Roster shot of ONR GP38-2 1800 captured by Mike Robin at Englehart, Ontario September 12th, 2015
QUEBEC
CENTRAL MAINE AND QUEBEC: CP SD40-2F 9004, 9010, 9011, 9014, 9017 and 9020-9024 were sold to Central Maine & Quebec (CMQ), in September, Their CP were road numbers were retained. On the Central Maine & Quebec (ex-CP) Sherbrooke Sub, Francois Jolin photographed CMQ Train #2 as it rumbled over the deck bridge high above Eastman, QC, on a pleasant sunny morning on September 3rd. The motive power is a mix of leased power: PRLX SD40T-2 2826, and LETX GP35u 2550, 2558, and 2516 from Larry’s Truck Electric.
For comparison, check out Donald Haskel’s great photo of a CP RS-23 crossing the same bridge back in 1960! These MLW-built road switchers y would mu with most of the CP’s mainline power, so these could fill in as extra power when needed. Often two of them were mu'ed on Sherbrooke to St-Luc Yard Train 913.
Francois Jolin snapped CM&Q Train #1 at Farnham, QC on July 17th. The lead unit (PRLX SD40T-2 2858) is former (UP) SSW SD45T-2 9157, one of three (PRLX 2826, 2856, and 2858) leased to CM&Q.
CP SD40-2F 9004, 9010, 9011, 9014, 9017 and 9020-9024 were sold to Central Maine & Quebec (CMQ), in September, the CP road numbers retained. At sunrise at Farnham, QC on October 1st, 2015 Francois Jolin clicked Central Maine & Quebec 810 locomotives ( LTEXGP35u 2558 and 2525) pass ex-Canadian Pacific SD40-2F 9022, the first of ten ``Red Barn's`` acquired by the Central Maine & Quebec (CMQ)
Ex-PORT OF MONTREAL: At Rigby Yard in Portland, Maine on September 19th, Peter Coulombe caught former Port of Montreal MP15AC (POM 8404), now repainted as GMTX 5000 on a Pan Am Railways (PAR EDPO) an East Deerfield-Portland freight. The Mother of the GATX 5000/5001 slug set, is being leased by PAR to work the Hump at East Deerfield Yard and needs some minor repairs beforehand at the ex-Maine Central Waterville Shop.
CHEMINS DE FER ARNAUD / WABUSH LAKE RAILWAY VIGNETTES: On August 30th, 1981 Bill Grandin shot Arnaud Railway RS18’s 902 and 901 at Pointe Noire, QC These were built by MLW, as low hood Road Switchers.
Arnaud Railway RS-18 nos. 906, 902, 905 and 904 were photographed with an ore train by Rolf Stumpf as they waited to enter the pelletizer plant at Pointe Noire, PQ on September 13th, 1998.
ROBERVAL-SAGUENAY RAILWAY (QUEBEC) VIGNETTES: This photo was taken in 1938 Arvida, QC in 1927, and shows RS #15, which was acquired by R-S in 1928. (Crédit: Rio Tinto Alcan, Ian Stronach Collection).
A 35,400 lbs. R-S steam engine in 1927 at Arvida, QC. (Crédit: Rio Tinto Alcan, Ian Stronach Collection).
This photo from 1930 shows an RS steamer acquired in 1926. The locomotive was retired in 1953. (Crédit: Rio Tinto Alcan, Ian Stronach Collection)
At Bagotville, QC in 1920, we see RS 4-6-0 #10, built at the Canadian Locomotive Company in London, ON. Specs: Cyl. 19" x 24" Drv. 56" Press. 180 t.e. 23,760 CLC 689 3/1906. Don McQueen added only RS 4-4-0 #2; 4-6-0 #10 & #11; and 2-8-0 #16 & #17 were built by CLC in Kingston, ON. This steam engine was retired in 1932. (Crédit: Rio Tinto Alcan, Ian Stronach Collection).
EASTERN REGIONAL RAIL NEWS
(Edited by Paul Donovan) Central Maine and Quebec Railway News: Central Maine and Quebec Railway has been named by the State of Maine as operator of the state-owned former Maine Central Railroad Brunswick to Rockland branch. Operated for the last nine years as the Maine Eastern Railway, a subsidiary of Morristown & Erie Railroad in New Jersey, the line currently hosts both passenger and freight service. However, the bulk of the freight service is on the east end of the line between a cement plant at Thomaston and barge loading facility in Rockland, and there is only sporadic freight traffic on the line between Thomaston and Brunswick. The entire branch was rebuilt at state expense in 2005 to bring it up to passenger train standards, but the Bangor Daily News (ME) is reporting that CM&Q’s contract with the state does NOT include operating the passenger trains. Maine’s “Tea Party” governor Paul LePage is on record as not being a supporter of passenger rail. A state official is quoted as saying CM&Q was selected for their “expertise in freight railroad operation”. Given their struggles last winter, I’d say they had plenty of challenges on the existing railroad, and their interest and subsequent winning bid to operate the Brunswick-Rockland trackage is a surprise. There is no physical connection between any CM&Q trackage and the former Maine Eastern Railway, so the operation will be an isolated one. Takeover is set for January 1, 2016. Maine Eastern’s current passenger operation, using former New Haven Railroad FL-9’s, will be missed. The photo below was taken at Cooks Corner, Maine, August 13, 2010.
Former Pennsylvania Railroad Budd-built observation trails the westbound Maine Eastern train at Cooks Corner, Maine, on August 13, 2010. These rare “flat end” parlor observations were built for the PRR’s Senator and Congressional trains.
An influx of various GP38-2 and SD-40-2 equivalents has reportedly stabilized the motive power situation on CM&Q, including several SD40T-2 tunnel motors I have not yet been able to track down and photograph. Unknown if they are of D&RGW or SP origin. New Brunswick Southern Railway/Eastern Maine Railway News: Lots of track work on Eastern Maine Railway/New Brunswick Southern Railway this summer and early fall, utilizing contractor equipment and crews. East and Westbound daily trains are still meeting frequently at the Bancroft, ME siding in late afternoon or early evening, as in these photos taken on September 15, 2015. HLCX 6340, leading NBSR 8144 and NBSR 6319, moves slowly up the main line.
HLCX 6340 (an ex-SP SD40R) East takes the siding at Bancroft while the westbound freight, led by NBSR 6315, holds the main on September 15th. Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia News: Not much to report on the CB&CNS front. It appears the province is still casting around for a solution (and the money) to keep the rails in place. As I mentioned last month, all freight rail service has ended north of Port Hawkesbury. CN East Vignette:
Eastbound CN freight for Moncton crosses over the Salmon Brook Trestle in New Denmark, NB, on November 10, 2009, and enters the massive fill and cuts that form the eastern approach. A matched set of SD70M-2’s is up front.  CRO October 2015 |
