The latest Canadian National GE ET44AC Order:

GE Manufacturing Solutions marked a milestone by celebrating the 1,000th locomotive built at the Fort Worth plant only three-and-a-half years after opening. The 1,000th locomotive is an Evolution Series Tier 4 ET44AC locomotive model for Canadian National Railway (CN 3087). The locomotive is part of an order of 82 locomotives by Canadian National. Since opening in late 2012, the plant has built locomotives for BNSF Railway, Canadian National, CSX Transportation, among other railroads. BNSF has had more than 770 locomotives built at the facility alone, according to an article in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The plant employs about 700 people. Details: http://invent.ge/29l7R4m.

On July 16th, brand new GE-built ET44AC's (Union Pacific Et44AC 2670 and Canadian National ET44AC 3103), head out on a test run on the BNSF near Justin, TX.  Photo is courtesy of Ruperto Gutierrez.

At the GE Fort Worth, Texas plant over the July 4th Independence Day holiday, eleven CN units were parked outside of the plant, CN 3079-3088 and 3092. On July 3rd, brand new CN 3074, 3073, and 3078 were on Q 195. They were delivered on 16 06 25. This order is being built at Fort Worth, Texas and this was their 1st trip north to Chicago!  As of July 25th 14 completed ET44AC units were seen on the next to the BNSF Mainline ready to ship near the plant, CN 3081, 3087, 3090, 3091, 3092, 3093, 3094, 3095, 3096, 3097, 3098, 3099, 3100, 3101, Inside the Plant but outside were CN 3102, 3104, 3105, and 3106 all complete along with six Union Pacific ET's (UP 2670 and five unknown numbers).

Prepped for departure, CN ET44AC 3082, 3079, 3080 and 3081, are shown waiting to be shipped from the GE plant in Fort Worth, TX on July 8th.  These four are now delivered and in service on CN. (Rupert Gutierrez photo).    

Two weeks earlier on June 28th, brand new Canadian National ET44AC 3083  backs inside the GE plant, as the crew tie down CN 3084 after her last test run in Fort Worth, Texas. (Rupert Gutierrez photo).

 

 

 A sad Sign of the Times:  New Inward Facing Cameras have been installed on all the most recent GE's built in Texas.  

 

All 90 units are ES44AC / ET44AC locomotives built to Tier 4 emission standards at the Texas Ft. Worth GE plant. There are two groups:

82 ET44ACs (3039-3120)

8 ES44AC Tier 4 credit units (expected to be 2976-2983)

CN 3039 to 3087 are now in service.  As of July 15th, units up t0 CN 3103  have been completed, with these new CN 3100's still testing,  and the last units of the 3000-series, being prepped for delivery.  The CN GE Tier 4 deliveries will continue throughout 2016. CN has ordered 90 locomotives from GE: 82 ET44AC, and 8 ES44AC T4C (Tier 4 Credit) units. The 82 ET44AC are 3039-3120; the ES44AC Tier 4 numbers expected to be 2976-2983.  Deliveries began in early April and more than half of the order is delivered and in service.  As we went to press in mid-July about 20 units were still at the GE plant in various stages of construction.   

These ET44AC locomotives offer better clearance up top and have the new tapered roof line as well as inward facing Cameras 0n the more recent ones.     

The other 8 units on order are ES44AC Tier 4 Tax Credit units.  Expected numbers for these are to be CN 2976-2983.  We have no confirmation yet and it is not known if they will be built in Fort Worth, TX, or at Erie, PA.

Having Canadian National's  82 Tier 4 ET44AC locomotive order being built at the new GE plant in Texas, has been a bitter pill to swallow for the GE employees at Erie PA.  One unfortunate side effect:  when these are all delivered and in service, there is a likely possibility that many of the stored SD60, SD60F and other older mainline locomotives may not be returning to service.

Inside the cab photos of CN ET44AC 3073 outside the Woodcrest Shop July 15th. (Our gratitude and thanks to our CN Contributors). 

Inside the Woodcrest Shop CN ET44AC 3073:

Stored units May 2016 update:

 During July, freight traffic remained down on all parts of the Canadian National Railway system, including CN's top priority intermodal trains (CN #111 and #101) shorter than ever before.  As well, many intermodal well car sets and other container equipment have been stored across the country. With hundreds of locomotives sitting in storage across the system, close to 2000 CN employees have been laid off across Canada.

 Many of CN's older units are stored at their shops in Illinois, Alberta, Ontario, and Tennessee,  The majority are SD60F, SD60, SD40-2, SD40-2W, GP40-2LW, Dash 8-40C, and even a few IC SD70's. The poor economy and ever changing traffic levels affect the amount of activated Motive Power.  CN use the following criteria to choose what locomotive models get stored: Age of the Locomotive, Reliability, and its Performance.   The model series to be stored gets drained of fluids, the roof stack is covered to prevent water corrosion, the batteries are disconnected, and sometimes removed, and depending on the storage location, the cab may get locked to prevent vandalism.  Here are some stored at Centralia, IL. (Christopher Bodkin photo) 

 

On  July 13th, CN GMD1u 1405 was shot trailing DIT in this CN loco lashup as they switched rail cars preparing a train departure from Markham Yard. We have not ascertained where it was headed to.

 

While announcing their Second Quarter (2Q16) financial results, the Canadian National Railway stated that 24% of its 2200 fleet of locomotives  are stored!  During July, freight traffic remained down on all parts of the Canadian National Railway system, including CN's top priority intermodal trains (CN #111 and #101) shorter than ever before.  As well, many intermodal well car sets and other container equipment have been stored across the country. With hundreds of locomotives sitting in storage across the system, close to 2000 CN employees have been laid off across Canada

 Many of CN's older units are stored at their shops in Illinois, Alberta, Ontario, and Tennessee,  The majority are SD60F, SD60, SD40-2, SD40-2W, GP40-2LW, Dash 8-40C, and even a few IC SD70's. The poor economy and ever changing traffic levels affect the amount of activated Motive Power.  CN use the following criteria to choose what locomotive models get stored: Age of the Locomotive, Reliability, and its Performance.   The model series to be stored gets drained of fluids, the roof stack is covered to prevent water corrosion, the batteries are disconnected, and sometimes removed, and depending on the storage location, the cab may get locked to prevent vandalism.  Here are some stored at Centralia, IL. (Christopher Bodkin photo)

 

On  July 13th, CN GMD1u 1405 was shot trailing DIT in this CN loco lashup as they switched rail cars preparing a train that would later depart from Champaign IL southbound. 

On July 16th, Kim Kafura bagged a survivor: Still in the blue livery, GTW GP38-2 6221 is shown pulling past the ex-CNW depot in Neenah, WI.

GTW GP38-2 6221 shoves back past the ex-CNW passe4nger station platform in Neenah, WI on July 16th. Back in its heyday in the GTW passenger era, this platform would have been busy with passengers boarding to head to Milwaukee, WI.

Ex-CREX C40-8's CN 2000-2041 inclusive are former UP C40-8's purchased by CN from CREX back in 2012. All of them have been repainted into CN uniform. All can lead and have had radiator modifications, electrical upgrades.   

Ex-UP nee-CNW C40-8's CN 2100-2134 were the first group of ex-UP nee-CNW C40-8's purchased by CN in 2011. Some of this group are painted in the 15 Year anniversary paint scheme.  These units have DPU equipment: CN 2100-2102, 2104-2106, 2108-2110, 2113-2118, 2120, 2121, 2123, 2125, 2128-2130, 2132 and 2134.  

C40-8:

 Compiled below are the ex-UP/ex-CREX C40-8's arranged by their assigned CN number:   

     NEW        FORMER NUMBERS                            SERIAL    NEW    FORMER NUMBERS     SERIAL

    2000:3    CREX 9023;  UP 9023;  CNW 8501    46085        2100:2    UP 9065;  CNW 8553    46781
    2001:3    CREX 9024;  UP 9024;  CNW 8502    46086        2101:2    UP 9066;  CNW 8554     46782
    2002:3    CREX 9025;  UP 9025;  CNW 8503    46087        2102:2    UP 9067;  CNW 8555    46783
    2003:3    CREX 9026;  UP 9026;  CNW 8514    46098        2103:2    UP 9068;  CNW 8556    46784
    2004:3    CREX 9027;  UP 9027;  CNW 8505    46089        2104:2    UP 9069;  CNW 8557    46785
    2005:3    CREX 9028;  UP 9028;  CNW 8506    46090        2105:2    UP 9070;  CNW 8558    46786
    2006:3    CREX 9029;  UP 9029;  CNW 8507    46091        2106:2    UP 9071;  CNW 8559    46787
    2007:3    CREX 9030;  UP 9030;  CNW 8508    46092        2107:2    UP 9072;  CNW 8560    46788
    2008:3    CREX 9031;  UP 9031;  CNW 8509    46093        2108:2    UP 9073;  CNW 8561    46789
    2009:3    CREX 9032;  UP 9032;  CNW 8510    46094        2109:2    UP 9074;  CNW 8562    46790
    2010:3    CREX 9033;  UP 9033;  CNW 8511    46095        2110:2    UP 9075;  CNW 8563    46791
    2011:3    CREX 9034;  UP 9034;  CNW 8513    46088        2111:2    UP 9076;  CNW 8564    46792
    2012:3    CREX 9035;  UP 9035;  CNW 8504    46097        2112:2    UP 9077;  CNW 8565    46793
    2013:3    CREX 9036;  UP 9036;  CNW 8520    46104        2113:2    UP 9078;  CNW 8566    46794
    2014:3   CREX 9037;  UP 9037;  CNW 8515    46099        2114:2    UP 9079;  CNW 8567    46795
    2015:3    CREX 9038;  UP 9038;  CNW 8516    46100        2115:2    UP 9080;  CNW 8568    46796
    2016:3    CREX 9039;  UP 9039;  CNW 8512    46096        2116:2    UP 9081;  CNW 8569    46797
    2017:3    CREX 9040;  UP 9040;  CNW 8518    46102        2117:2    UP 9082;  CNW 8570    46798
    2018:3    CREX 9041;  UP 9041;  CNW 8519    46103        2118:2    UP 9083;  CNW 8571    46799
    2019:3    CREX 9042;  UP 9042;  CNW 8523    46107        2119:2    UP 9084;  CNW 8572    46800
    2020:3    CREX 9043;  UP 9043;  CNW 8521    46105        2120       UP 9085;  CNW 8573    46801
    2021:3    CREX 9044;  UP 9044;  CNW 8522    46106        2121       UP 9086;  CNW 8574    46802
    2022:3    CREX 9045;  UP 9045;  CNW 8525    46109        2122       UP 9087;  CNW 8575    46803
    2023:3    CREX 9046;  UP 9046;  CNW 8524    46108        2123       UP 9088;  CNW 8576    46804
    2024:3    CREX 9047;  UP 9047;  CNW 8526    46110        2124       UP 9089;  CNW 8577    46805
    2025:2    CREX 9048;  UP 9048;  CNW 8517    46101        2125       UP 9090;  CNW 8549    46777
    2026:2    CREX 9049;  UP 9049;  CNW 8527    46111        2126       UP 9091;  CNW 8543    46771
    2027:2    CREX 9050;  UP 9050;  CNW 8528    46112        2127       UP 9092;  CNW 8544    46772
    2028:2    CREX 9051;  UP 9051;  CNW 8529    46113        2128       UP 9093;  CNW 8545    46773
    2029:2    CREX 9052;  UP 9052;  CNW 8530    46114        2129       UP 9094;  CNW 8546    46774
    2030:2    CREX 9053;  UP 9053;  CNW 8531    46371        2130       UP 9095;  CNW 8547    46775
    2031:2    CREX 9054;  UP 9054;  CNW 8532    46372        2131       UP 9096;  CNW 8548    46776
    2032:2    CREX 9055;  UP 9055;  CNW 8533    46373        2132       UP 9097;  CNW 8550    46778
    2033:2    CREX 9056;  UP 9056;  CNW 8534    46374        2133       UP 9098;  CNW 8551    46779
    2034:2    CREX 9057;  UP 9057;  CNW 8535    46375        2134      UP 9099;  CNW 8552    46780
    2035:2    CREX 9058;  UP 9058;  CNW 8536    46376                             
    2036:2    CREX 9059;  UP 9059;  CNW 8537    46377    
    2037:2    CREX 9060;  UP 9060;  CNW 8538    46378    
    2038:2    CREX 9061;  UP 9061;  CNW 8539    46379    
    2039:2    CREX 9062;  UP 9062;  CNW 8540    46380
    2040:2    CREX 9063:  UP 9063;  CNW 8541    46381
    2041:2    CREX 9064;  UP 9064;  CNW 8542    46382

 C40-8W:  

 Compiled below are the ex-BNSF C40-8W's arranged by their assigned CN number.    

    NEW        FORMER NUMBERS    SERIAL    NEW    FORMER NUMBERS    SERIAL

    2098        BNSF 865;  ATSF 865    46994        2167    BNSF 811;  ATSF 811    46940
    2099        BNSF 866   ATSF 866    46995        2168    BNSF 813;  ATSF 813    46942
    2135        BNSF 800;  ATSF 800    46929        2169    BNSF 815;  ATSF 815    46944
    2136        BNSF 802;  ATSF 802    46931        2170    BNSF 817;  ATSF 817    46946
    2137        BNSF 804;  ATSF 804    46933        2171    BNSF 819;  ATSF 819    46948
    2138        BNSF 806;  ATSF 806    46935        2172    BNSF 821;  ATSF 821    46950
    2139        BNSF 808;  ATSF 808    46937        2173    BNSF 823;  ATSF 823    46952
    2140        BNSF 810;  ATSF 810    46939        2174    BNSF 825;  ATSF 825    46954
    2141        BNSF 812;  ATSF 812    46941        2175    BNSF 827;  ATSF 827    46956
    2142        BNSF 814;  ATSF 814    46943        2176    BNSF 829;  ATSF 829    46958
    2143        BNSF 816;  ATSF 816    46945        2177    BNSF 831;  ATSF 831    46960
    2144        BNSF 818;  ATSF 818    46947        2178    BNSF 833;  ATSF 833    46962
    2145        BNSF 820;  ATSF 820    46949        2179    BNSF 835;  ATSF 835    46964
    2146        BNSF 822;  ATSF 822    46951        2180    BNSF 837;  ATSF 837    46966
    2147        BNSF 824;  ATSF 824    46953        2181    BNSF 839;  ATSF 839    46968
    2148        BNSF 826;  ATSF 826    46955        2182    BNSF 841;  ATSF 841    46970
    2149        BNSF 828;  ATSF 828    46957        2183    BNSF 843;  ATSF 843    46972
    2150        BNSF 830;  ATSF 830    46959        2184    BNSF 845;  ATSF 845    46974
    2151        BNSF 832;  ATSF 832    46961        2185    BNSF 847;  ATSF 847    46976
    2152        BNSF 834;  ATSF 834    46963        2186    BNSF 849;  ATSF 849    46978
    2153        BNSF 836;  ATSF 836    46965        2187    BNSF 851;  ATSF 851    46980
    2154        BNSF 838;  ATSF 838    46967        2188    BNSF 853;  ATSF 853    46982
    2155        BNSF 840;  ATSF 840    46969        2189    BNSF 854;  ATSF 854    46983
    2156        BNSF 842;  ATSF 842    46971        2190    BNSF 855;  ATSF 855    46984         
    2157        BNSF 844;  ATSF 844    46973        2191    BNSF 856;  ATSF 856    46985
    2158        BNSF 846;  ATSF 846    46975        2192    BNSF 857;  ATSF 857    46986
    2159        BNSF 848;  ATSF 848    46977        2193    BNSF 858;  ATSF 858    46987
    2160        BNSF 850;  ATSF 850    46979        2194    BNSF 859;  ATSF 859    46988
    2161        BNSF 852;  ATSF 852    46981        2195    BNSF 860;  ATSF 860    46989
    2162        BNSF 801;  ATSF 801    46930        2196     BNSF 861;  ATSF 861    46990
    2163        BNSF 803;  ATSF 803    46932        2197    BNSF 862;  ATSF 862    46991
    2164        BNSF 805;  ATSF 805    46934        2198    BNSF 863;  ATSF 863    46992
    2165        BNSF 807;  ATSF 807    46936        2199    BNSF 864;  ATSF 864    46993
    2166        BNSF 809;  ATSF 809    46938

 IC Former LMSX C40-8W

 To date, IC C40-8W 2458, 2461, and 2465 remain the only IC/ex-LMS blue bird units painted in CN uniform.  IC 2458 and 2461 were painted at the Centralia Shop in Illinois and IC 2465 was done at the Transcona Shop, in Winnipeg.  

 The other LMSX C40-8W's are still wearing (Conrail) blue paint, and are patched "IC". After operating on CN and Conrail for many years in a co-leasing arrangement in the 1990's, LMSX 728-736, 738, and 739) eventually had their leases purchased by CN. One is off the roster. IC 2464 was retired in 2012, after being wrecked on the CSX.  

 CN (ex-GMTX/ex-EMDX) SD60

 CN acquired 90 second-hand EMD / Oakway Leasing  (3,800 hp) SD60 locomotives back in 2012 All are upgraded to CN specifications, repainted into CN colours, and can lead.  They were purchased in two groups: 

CN SD60 5400-5442 (1st group)
CN SD60 5443-5489 (2nd group).          

  NEW        FORMER NUMBERS        SERIAL            NEW    FORMER NUMBERS        SERIAL

    5400:2    GMTX 9013; OWY 9013    867150-14            5445:2    EMDX 9002; OWY 9002    867150-03
    5401:2    GMTX 9020; OWY 9020    867150-21            5446:2    EMDX 9003; OWY 9003    867150-04
    5402:2    GMTX 9023; OWY 9023    867150-24            5447:2    EMDX 9004; OWY 9004    867150-05
    5403:2    GMTX 9027; OWY 9027    867150-28            5448:2    EMDX 9005; OWY 9005    867150-06
    5404:2    GMTX 9030; OWY 9030    867150-31            5449:2    EMDX 9006; OWY 9006    867150-07
    5405:2    GMTX 9033; OWY 9033    867150-34            5450:2    EMDX 9007; OWY 9007    867150-08
    5406:2    GMTX 9034; OWY 9034    867150-35            5451:2    EMDX 9008; OWY 9008    867150-09
    5407:2    GMTX 9035; OWY 9035    867150-36            5452:2    EMDX 9009; OWY 9009    867150-10
    5408:2    GMTX 9036; OWY 9036    867150-37            5453:2    EMDX 9010; OWY 9010    867150-11
    5409:2    GMTX 9037; OWY 9037    867150-38            5454:2    EMDX 9011; OWY 9011    867150-12
    5410:2    GMTX 9040; OWY 9040    867150-41            5455:2    EMDX 9012; OWY 9012    867150-13
    5411:2    GMTX 9042; OWY 9042    867150-43            5456:2   EMDX 9015; OWY 9015    867150-16
    5412:2    GMTX 9043; OWY 9043    867150-44            5457:2    EMDX 9017; OWY 9017    867150-18
    5413:2    GMTX 9045; OWY 9045    867150-46            5458:2    EMDX 9018; OWY 9018    867150-19
    5414:2    GMTX 9046; OWY 9046    867150-47            5459:2    EMDX 9019; OWY 9019    867150-20
    5415:2    GMTX 9050; OWY 9050    867150-51            5460       EMDX 9021; OWY 9021    867150-22
    5416:2    GMTX 9051; OWY 9051    867150-52            5461       EMDX 9022; OWY 9022    867150-23
    5417:2    GMTX 9053; OWY 9053    867150-54            5462       EMDX 9024; OWY 9024    867150-25
    5418:2    GMTX 9054; OWY 9054    867150-55            5463       EMDX 9025; OWY 9025    867150-26
    5419:2    GMTX 9055; OWY 9055    867150-56            5464       EMDX 9026; OWY 9026    867150-27
    5420:2    GMTX 9056; OWY 9056    867150-57            5465       EMDX 9028; OWY 9028    867150-29
    5421:2    GMTX 9057; OWY 9057    867150-58            5466       EMDX 9029; OWY 9029     867150-30
    5422:2    GMTX 9058; OWY 9058    867150-59            5467       EMDX 9031; OWY 9031    867150-32
    5423:2    GMTX 9060; OWY 9060    867150-61            5468       EMDX 9032; OWY 9032    867150-33
    5424:2    GMTX 9064; OWY 9064    867150-65            5469       EMDX 9038; OWY 9038    867150-39
    5425:2    GMTX 9066; OWY 9066    867150-67            5470       EMDX 9039; OWY 9039    867150-40
    5426:2    GMTX 9069; OWY 9069    867150-70            5471       EMDX 9047; OWY 9047    867150-48
    5427:2    GMTX 9071; OWY 9071    867150-72            5472       EMDX 9048; OWY 9048    867150-49
    5428:2    GMTX 9073; OWY 9073    867150-74            5473       EMDX 9049; OWY 9049    867150-50
    5429:2    GMTX 9074; OWY 9074    867150-75            5474       EMDX 9052; OWY 9052    867150-53
    5430:2    GMTX 9075; OWY 9075    867150-76            5475       EMDX 9063; OWY 9063    867150-64
    5431:2    GMTX 9076; OWY 9076    867150-77            5476       EMDX 9065; OWY 9065    867150-66
    5432:2    GMTX 9078; OWY 9078    867150-79            5477       EMDX 9068; OWY 9068    867150-69
    5433:2    GMTX 9079; OWY 9079    867150-80            5478       EMDX 9070; OWY 9070    867150-71
    5434:2    GMTX 9080; OWY 9080    867150-81            5479       EMDX 9072; OWY 9072    867150-73
    5435:2    GMTX 9085; OWY 9085    867150-86            5480       EMDX 9077; OWY 9077    867150-78
    5436:2    GMTX 9086; OWY 9086    867150-87            5481       EMDX 9081; OWY 9081    867150-82
    5437:2    GMTX 9087; OWY 9087    867150-88            5482       EMDX 9083; OWY 9083    867150-84
    5438:2    GMTX 9089; OWY 9089    867150-90            5483       EMDX 9084; OWY 9084    867150-85
    5439:2    GMTX 9092; OWY 9092    867150-93            5484       EMDX 9088; OWY 9088    867150-89
    5440:2    GMTX 9095; OWY 9095    867150-96            5485       EMDX 9090; OWY 9090    867150-91
    5441:2    GMTX 9097; OWY 9097    867150-98            5486       EMDX 9091; OWY 9091    867150-92
    5442:2    GMTX 9099; OWY 9099   867150-100           5487       EMDX 9093; OWY 9093    867150-94
    5443:2    EMDX 9000; OWY 9000    867150-01            5488      EMDX 9096; OWY 9096     867150-97
    5444:2    EMDX 9001; OWY 9001    867150-02            5489      EMDX 9098; OWY 9098     867150-99

 Oakway SD60 9041 was wrecked during the 1980's while on lease to BN.  The locomotive was replaced with (Electro Motive Diesel Division) SD60 Demonstrator EMDX #3.

Oakway SD60 9062 was wrecked and scrapped in the 1990's.

FLASHBACK: CN SD60 5480 is seen in new paint and ready to go into service at the CN engine facility at Centralia, IL on September 27th, 2012. (George Redmond)

Last CN Retirements to date:

 Two former CN GMD-built units GMD1u 1410 and GP9RM 7276 were seen at Symington Yard in mid-July, now re-stenciled to Northern Plains Railroad (NPR 1410 and NPR 7278).  CN 1410 was removed from the CN roster in 2016 and CN 7278 was retired three years ago,  in 2013.  

CN GP9RM 7220 was Retired between Aug 12, and Dec 31, 2015.  

 CN GP9-Slug 207 and 227 were both "Un-Retired" between Aug 12, and Dec 31, 2015.

 CN GP9-Slug 249 and CN HBU-4 522 were Retired between March 12, and August 12, 2015.

CN GP9-Slug 211, and WC SW1500 1552 and 1560 were Retired in 2013 and 2012 respectively, and were "Un-Retired" sometime between March 12 and August 12, 2015).  

 CN C40-8W 2191 "Retired" in October 2014 with wreck damage following the WSOR collision in Wisconsin, became "Unretired" in 2015 and was fully repaired and repainted at NRE Silvis, IL.  She returned to service in January 2016). CN 2191 was reinstated into the active roster sometime between the March 12 and August 12, 2015 CRO Retirement reports.  Unfortunately for us, CN reports their retirements very infrequently.

IC E9Au 100 and 101 (Retired in 2014, were sold to the Iowa Pacific in October 2014).  IC VICGETTE:  In November 2014, Martin Simane Shot Illinois Central E9A's 100 and 101 inside the Shop at Markham Yard.  Seeing the elephant style reminded him to all the years that the CB&Q ran them that way. He knew that would be the last time he might see the pair again, standing on the pit they called home for the last 20 years.  They of course are now repainted and on the Iowa Pacific Railway, and in good hands.

Former CN locomotives living new lives South of the Border:

(Our thanks to Timothy Organ)

 Charles Minor photographed former CN GP40-2LW VTR 311 working in the old Rutland Vermont Yard, on March 5th, 2006.  

Another former CN GP40-2LW (KRT 1100), was shot by Brock Dishner clearly representing the USA with an American flag strapped to the front of it while switching around empty CSX coal tubs in darker weather that will later bring rain. Kanawha River Terminal-Ceredo Yard in Ceredo, West Virginia, on May 7th, 2016.  

Freshly painted GMTX GP38-2 2103 (Ex-MEI, exx-UP 884, exxx-UP 2384, exxxx-CN 9317, nee-CN 4017) sits in the sun at MEI surrounded by a sea of former UP MP15's on March 28th.  This is the newest GATX paint scheme, replacing e current lighter blue with white nose is seen on GMTX GP38-2 # 2103. # 2103 was one of 16 standard cab GP40's built for Canadian National and was later rebuilt in the 1990's by Alstom in Montreal into a GP38-2 for Union Pacific.  http://tinyurl.com/zl8bowy

 Still holding her heritage well GLLX 4433 (ex-GTW GP9 4433), awaits her next assignment at the new Grain and Fertilizer facility in Wayland, MI on  November 3rd 2015.  (Permission to be on the property was secured beforehand). This Geep was built in 1954, and at delivery the road numbers wre changed from GTW 1751 to 1765. The Class GR-17b were later renumbered in 1956 to GTW 4427-4421. (Photo by Stan Sienicki). 

 

CN NEWS

Runaway Train on York Subdivision

The Canadian Transportation Safety Board is investigating a 74 rail car runaway on CN that rolled 5 km out onto the main line between MacMillan Yard and Vaughan, in the greater Toronto area on June 17th, rolling uncontrolled at very slow speed for almost five kilometres.  One tank car was carrying ethanol, and another loaded with a gasoline mixture was among the 74 runaway railcars, CN said.  The TSB says that on June 17 ground crews were using a remote control device known widely in the industry as a "belt pack" to assemble a train when the 72 loaded cars -as well as two empty ones and somehow, rolled away uncontrolled.  In a written statement released the following day, CN confirmed a runaway locomotive escaped its control and pulled the cars five kilometres down the track with a crew member stranded onboard. CN also revealed that the runaway cars included"a single dangerous goods load of an ethanol/gasoline mixture." The company says it is co-operating with the TSB investigation.

The cars rolled out onto one of CN's busiest cross-country rail lines, known as the"York Subdivision," the Transportation Safety Board says.  CN spokesperson Mark Hallman said that the locomotive finally came to rest on an uphill grade near Bathurst Street just north of Steeles Avenue West with help from the train's emergency brakes.  "The movement reached a maximum speed of approximately 29 miles per hour but never exceeded permitted track speed limit and moved on tracks it had rail traffic control permission to be on," Hallman Said.  No one was hurt. CN says employees radioed their rail traffic control centre, which was able to clear area tracks to ensure the runaway railcars did not collide with another train. "There were no conflicting movements, derailments or injuries, the CN statement reads.

The CN locomotive and freight cars remained coupled throughout and CN immediately reported the incident to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. CN conducted its own probe and has taken corrective action to prevent such incidents in future."  Fortunately, the rail line, which curves southward and then east parallel to Steeles Avenue is separated from car and pedestrian traffic by a series of underpasses and overpasses as it crosses Dufferin, Bathurst and Yonge Streets.

The use of remote control belt packs to assemble trains is widespread and growing. Safety officials have been paying much closer attention to the practice, following a spate of derailments and crashes stemming from incidents where ground crews have lost control of the rail cars.

New Contract Awarded to Aecon Construction

Aecon Construction and Materials has been awarded a $19.4-million contract for a Highway 69-related project in the Henvey Inlet area in Northern Ontario.

The Toronto contractor will begin work shortly to realign 2.7 kilometres of CN railway tracks and build three new highway bridges at Highway 522 north of Henvey Inlet. The project will make room for an interchange at highways 69 and 522. Completion is anticipated in 2017. The Highway 69 four-laning project between Sudbury and Parry Sound is categorized by Queen's Park as the largest infrastructure investment in Ontario's history with spending of more than $130 billion over 10 years. There are currently two major four-laning contracts underway on Highway 69 north of the French River, totalling 20 kilometres.

The CN Montreal Sub Remodel Project

New deep drainage ditches where dug out on both sides of the CN Montreal Sub around De Courcelles Street crossing in July.  The crossing also now has a new raised median between the two roadway lanes on De Courceeles.  Much of ROW has been fenced off an is no longer railfan friendly.   The new signals installations are now active as well.   And during the month CN continued the major Montreal Sub mainline realignment project started over one year ago. It involves moving the current triple track main line located in-between the eastbound and westbound lanes of Autoroute 20, The 3 tracks would move , as well as the 4th service track several hundred feet to the north of the Highway, and pass through the former CN Turcot Yard.  The tracks needed to be moved for the huge Turcot Interchange highway project under construction.  The existing intechange has been a frustrating bottleneck for Montreal motorists and truck traffic for many years as four major Montreal highway thoroughfares all meet there, and at different road height levels.  As well the poured concrete bridge cloverleaf structures are dilapidated, crumbling and rusting, and in need of complete  replacement. 

As the CN and VIA mainlines pass beneath e the cloverleaf in a short concrete tunnel, the entire existing Right of Way must be moved.  CN has proceeded in the realignment to the east through St-Henri where the Montreal Sub is double tracked up to De Coucelles Street.  Then a switch on the North main line track begin the third main line track and a fourth service run through track  (West of the crossing) that eventually will run all the way to join up with the four track main at Turcot West, Therefore there will be four tracks between  Turcot East and the junction into Taschereau Yard.  At that time the posted track speed can be increased west of the St. Ambroise street Crossing in St. Henri East.  

   

 

STATION STOPS

CN NEWS

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PHOTOS

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 CN RS18 3153 in the TEMPO paint scheme running CN express trains west of  Bayview Junction back in August 1981, The RS18u's were set up just for this service, though Donald Haskel added that he did see GMD CN GP9's filling in now and then. The CN Engineer looks happy on this run.

Jeremy Plant took this great image of MLW-built (A-1-A trucked) CN RSC-14 1786 at Halifax, NS, in August 1977.

CN FPA4 6786 leads an eastbound at Brockville, ON in November 1971. (Jeremy Plant).  By the late 1970's the yard in the background was gone.

These terrific CN and CV Vignettes taken in Maine were all submitted by photographer Peter J. Coulombe. First up, CN GP38-2's 5552 and 5545 lead train 393 into Portland, Maine on September 4th , 1976.

On the first of May 1979, Peter J. Coulombe shot CN M420W 2512 leading train #303 out of Portland, ME, back to Canada.

CN M420W 2518 leads a westbound over the Little Androscoggin River in South Paris, Maine, with a trailing DW&P RS11 on February 25th, 1978. 

On May 6th, 1978, Peter J. Coulombe shot CN M420W 2524 leading four siblings westbound over the Presumpscot River in Falmouth, ME.

On the Central Vermont Railway Norway Branch back on February 25th, 1978, Peter clicked CV GP9 4923 passing over the level crossing in Norway, Maine.

With the Central Vermont Railway Brakeman carfully checking the right of way, a CV local with all red DW&P RS11 3605, inches the local down Commercial Street in Portland, Maine on November 26th, 1980.

      

 

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