Regarding the 90 unit new locomotive order from Canadian National:

CRO received a lot of mail last month asking whether some Tier 4 EMD's might be included in the new CN locomotive order. Sorry to say, the answer is no. All 90 units will be GE-built (Tier 4 emission standards) ET44AC locomotives. However, there are two groups:

82 ET44ACs (3039-3120)

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

CN 3039 to 3063 have been delivered from the GE locomotive plant in Texas.  However, there has been no sign of the remaining units in the order so far.  One aspect to consider, with the downturn in business, CN actually doesn't really need this new power, but cancelling the GE order would have cost CN too much.  So they are to be built and delivered as scheduled (or perhaps delayed at CN's request?).  The sad news is, when these are all delivered and in service, there is a strong chance that many of the stored SD60, SD60F and other older mainline locomotives may not be returning to service.

Brand new CN ET44AC 3062 at the Stevens Point, Wisconsin fuel service facility on May 9th, 2016.  It was parked with CN ES44AC 2885.  PHOTO CN 3062 Robert

We received these great detail photos of CN ET44AC 3051 taken from inside and out on April 11th, 2016, as she was sitting on the outbound shop track at MacMillan Yard. (My thanks to the Contributor). 

Surprise, surprise No. 1! Richard Marchi clicked Abitibi Consolidated SW900RS 7910 at CN Taschereau Yard in Montreal on May 12th. Back in 2015 she was acquired by the Ronsco repair shop at Coteau-du-Lac, QC

 

 On May 6th, CN Engineer Martin Simane returned the Dorm Car back to Amtrak in Chicago. It had been leased by CN as crew quarters on the CN TEC Train, which operated almost 24/7 over a wide area of CN trackage during April-May 2016.  Martin shot his own move as it sat on the old GM&O Northbound Main at 21st Street in Chicago on May 6th. 2016 while it was waiting on the Amtrak crew to pilot us back in the yard.

 

As we previously explained, Canadian National's GE Tier 4 deliveries have begun, and will continue throughout 2016. CN has ordered 90 locomotives in total from GE: split as 82 ET44AC and 8 ES44AC T4C (Tier 4 Credit) units. The 82 ET44AC are numbered 3039-3128; and the ES44AC Tier 4 numbers expected to be CN 2976-2983. Deliveries began in early April with many are already in service and offer better clearance up top as they have the new tapered roof line.    

The new 82 Tier 4 General Electric-built ET44AC locomotive CN order are being built at the new GE plant in Texas, which of course has been a bitter pill to swallow for the GE employees at Erie PA.

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.

 More Grim News: Freight Traffic is down on all parts of the Canadian National Railway system. Even CN's top priority intermodal trains (CN #111 and #101) are shorter than ever before.  As well, many intermodal well car sets and other container equipment has been stored across the country. As locomotives sit in storage across the system, close to 2000 CN employees or more were 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.  The 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.  Christopher Bodkin shot a pair of stored SD60F's (2 of many) in Centralia, IL on May 1st.

 Another view of stored CN power at Centralia, IL  http://tinyurl.com/hewhpwq

Locomotives stored at Woodcrest shop are now including SD70i and SD75i's! Approximately 40 SD60, SD60F, SD70i,and SD75i locomotives are stored at  Homewood, IL include one IC SD70. (Mark Tracy photo).

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

 Former LMSX C40-8W STATUS:

 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.  

 On May 12th, Ron Visockis caught the (ex-LMSX Bluebird) IC C40-8W 2456 at Trenton, ON heading towards Toronto westbound.

The same consist (but from the opposite side) passing westbound at Geddes Street in Belleville, Ontario on May 12, 2016 at 17:10 hrs. (Barry Silverthorn photo). 

 CN (ex-GMTX/ex-EMDX) SD60 STATUS:

 CN acquired 90 second-hand EMD / Oakway Leasing (3,800 hp) SD60 locomotives back in 2012, which were delivered in two purchases: 

- CN SD60 5400-5442 (1st group)
- CN SD60 5443-5489 (2nd group). 
 All are upgraded to CN specifications, repainted into CN colours, and can lead.  

 CN (ex-Oakway) SD60 Roster:           

  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.

CN locos Sold or Retired:

 Last CN Retirements to date:

 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.

 CN GP9RM 7220 (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 (Retired in 2013, 2013 and 2012 respectively, were "Un-Retired" sometime between March 12 and August 12, 2015).  

 IC E9Au 100 and 101 (Retired in 2014, were sold to the Iowa Pacific in October 2014). 

 Ex-CN locomotives living new lives South of the Border:

(Our thanks to Timothy Organ)

 On May 5th, 2016, Baxter Barnes shot Delaware - Lackawanna M420W 2045 (ex-CN) rolling westbound PT97 past the Cresco Depot in Cresco, Pennsylvania.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=575513&nseq=381 

On May 4th, 2016 Hunter Lohse shot Carolina Coastal Railway CLNA GP9RM 4012 (Ex-CN) and its train wait to head north out of Wilson, North Carolina at Black Creek Road.

 

CN NEWS

The CN TEST Train with CN 2572 and CN 5951 rolled into Hamilton, Ontario on May 20th.  Here we see it posed beside Southern Ontario Railway 4001 as they change crews. All the new signals are for the GO service to the new Harbour West Station being built. This consist:

CNA 415867 - ATGMS Test Car,

CN 414852 - DGRMS Test Car,

CN 1057 - Passenger Car.  

After a new crew was on board, the TEC train headed east on the Grimsby Sub. We see them passing the construction of the new Harbour West GO Station. 

A roster shot of CN SD40-3 5951 as they pass under the Stuart Street bridge.

The CN Montreal Sub Remodel Project

CN began the major Montreal Sub mainline realignment project one year ago, which 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 interchange 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 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 Courcelles 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.  

(Photos by Guy-Pascal Arcoutte) 

MONTREAL SUB Looking East from Rue DeCourscelles:

MONTREAL SUB Looking west from Rue DeCourselles. Note the brand new signals:

The CN level crossing on Rue DeCourselles:

On the Montreal Subdivision on May 24th, Nicolas Houde shot CN 529 rolling through the construction work zone at Turcot West beside the ruins of the old tunnel with GE-built NS C44-9W 9873. The tunnel was removed a week ago with a heavy Mammoet traveling crane. As you can see, a part of the tunnel remains and will be demolished soon. 

This great video shows the movement and demolition of the old CN four track tunnel in the above at Turcot West with the line still active! https://vimeo.com/167148571/9ac3397c6e

Fire in Seton - Portage, B.C. damages CN Bridge

This CN railway bridge which connects Seton with BC Rail trackage in Lillooett, BC in the rural community of Seton Portage, B.C. caught fire April 29th, early in the morning.  Seton Portage, a rural community 25 kilometres west of Lillooet, B.C.  Half of the steel bridge, which runs through the centre of town, was engulfed in flames by 6:00 A.M P.T, according to the local volunteer fire department.

 The bridge, run by CN, connects Seton by train with the closest town, Lillooett. Residents will now have to drive to Lillooet, which is 1.5 hours away, until the bridge is repaired. CN could not say how long bridge repairs might take. "The line is out of service at that location but rail service to customers along the corridor will continue using alternate routes," a CN spokesperson said in an emailed statement. CN is investigating the cause of the fire. "We got a salmon-bearing and steelhead-bearing river that goes right under that bridge." (P Smith) Fire officials say no other structures in the area were damaged by the fire.   "You got a bunch of creosote ties. They are all on fire, so you're probably looking at flames about six-feet high and smoke," said Frank Richings, the fire chief at the Seton Valley Volunteer Fire Department. The firefighters could not immediately put out the fire when they arrived because of concerns about polluting the salmon bearing river below the bridge. After consulting with the Ministry of the Environment, the fire department was able to start fighting the fire at about 7:30 A.M. PT. The cause of the fire has not been determined, but Richings says it does not appear to be arson. The bridge is located on a waterway that connects Anderson and Seton Lakes. (CBC News report with a photo by Ray Kowalchuck). 

 Teenaged Arsonist Arrested in Alberta

 Police arrested 19-year-old Lawson Schalm of Mayerthorpe, Alberta  in connection to recent fires in the area. This includes the burning of the CN trestle bridge. A source tells us he was a junior firefighter for the town. 

Unbelievable amateur video footage from the ground of the fire:  http://tinyurl.com/zoc8rgq

Kelowna News Report with Ariel footage of the inferno:  http://tinyurl.com/zbxggw6

 CN rebuilds Mayerthorpe trestle in just 20 days!

 CN Rail crews working non-stop for 20 days have completed construction on a replacement for the Mayerthorpe wooden trestle bridge destroyed in a spectacular blaze.  The bridge went up in flames April 26. Days later, Mayerthorpe RCMP arrested and charged Lawson Michael Schalm, 19, with 18 counts of arson, including charges for the bridge fire.

Schalm, a volunteer firefighter, was among the crew that fought the blaze. CN said rail service between Mayerthorpe and Whitecourt was restored after completion of the 366-metre bridge.  CN said the fire caused several million dollars worth of damage.

In order to build the new bridge, constructed of steel, concrete and fill, 190,000 metric tonnes of material was brought in. The completed bridge stands about 14 metres. Mayerthorpe is about 120 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.  http://tinyurl.com/gpge6xm

 VIA RAIL with CN Trackage Rights:

VIA has slashed passenger service in some parts of Southwestern Ontario and beyond because the federal government stood idle as CN imposed exorbitant fees for using its tracks, a leading rail expert says. "I don't even blame CN. If you have a goose ripe for plucking, in the business world you pluck it," said Greg Gormick, whose clients have included CN and CP, VIA RAIL  and General Motors' former locomotive-making business in London.

Asked by about his concerns, CN dismissed them but refused to disclose how much it charges taxpayer-subsidized VIA.  "CN rejects the unsubstantiated allegation that CN is charging VIA excessive track access fees," company spokesperson Mark Hallman wrote.  VIA's operations have been thrust under a spotlight amid a push by the rail-passenger service for a track of its own for conventional trains, a move some critics have interpreted as a move to fend off a provincial proposal to link Southwestern Ontario to Toronto by high-speed rail.

CN wouldn't disclose its deal with VIA that established track fees, with Hallman writing its terms are confidential but that "CN confidently asserts that the agreement is very affordable (and) delivers significant value to VIA Rail and the passengers it serves."  The rail giant's secrecy might violate the Canadian Transportation Act, says Ottawa lawyer Ian MacKay, who specializes in federal transportation law. That legislation requires rail companies to make public, upon request, agreements that involve the railway, land, equipment, facilities or services and there are no exceptions for deals signed beginning in 2007, he said. 

CN inked its latest deal with VIA in 2008. "If Via gets taken to the cleaners, the public has a right to know," Gormick said. "As a taxpayer, as a (VIA) passenger, I'm outraged." The Free Press asked federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau for his stance on the issue, to which his staff said Friday he will review the matter.  If Garneau wants to reverse declining service at VIA, says Gormick, he should embrace changes modelled after U.S. regulations that formed the basis of a private member's bill Gormick drafted for the NDP a bill he says received Liberal support, but was defeated 13 months ago under the former Conservative government.  The bill would have given Via trains priority over lengthy and slower freight trains on tracks owned by CN and others the same benefits the Amtrak passenger service enjoys in the U.S. and opposite of what exists now in Canada, where freight trains get to go first, causing lengthy delays for VIA.  Via admits its passengers face more frequent delays as freight traffic grows, telling Stratford officials last year that since 2011, freight volume had increased by 17 per cent, while Via's on-time rate dropped from 85 per cent to 72 per cent.

Via was doomed from the start when Ottawa created it and made it second fiddle to rail giants whose profits come from freight, said Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley.  "That was the fatal flaw. We needed the Amtrak model," said Bradley, whose city's service has been slashed: Sarnia gets two VIA trains a day, one that leaves early in the morning, the other returning late at night.  The federal government must intervene, said Gormick, because otherwise CN can continue to hold VIA hostage, since in some cases, CN tracks are the only game in town. To protect passengers and VIA service, Garneau should follow the American model, Gormick said:

Set out a formula that creates fees that VIA pays rather than force the company to bargain with track owners like CN.

Stop letting CN treat VIA trains as a nuisance and subservient to freight trains by giving VIA the means to challenge unreasonable delays; Amtrak has used such a mechanism to challenge CN over the use of its tracks in Illinois and Indiana.

VIA also needs to upgrade its dated fleet by seeing if it can piggyback on American orders and take advantage of lower costs from buying in bulk, Gormick said. Those changes would bring quick benefits, he said.  (The Free Press).

   

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The Following CN Vignettes are all courtesy of Bill Edgar, with thanks:

Back in April 1984, CN SW1200RS 1282 and five siblings making a light engine move from Thornton Yard near Surrey, BC to North Vancouver. The units are at a junction in Burnaby on the east side of Vancouver that separates CN, from the BN trackage rights it used from New Westminster. The units will run through a tunnel, and onto a bridge over the Burrard Inlet to later reach the North Vancouver terminal. (Bill Edgar photo)

Canadian National had the largest fleet of SD40's in North America with their fleet numbered CN 5000-5240! In April 1985, Bill Edgar shot CN SD40 5096 and 5100 showing their attractive zebra stripes at Boston Bar, BC, while waiting for their next assignment. While CN's 1961 black and red scheme was innovative, the added red cab, zebra stripes and yellow trim really dressed these SD40's up! Note also the freshly built "CANADA" grain car in the yard! 

CN SD40's 5122 and 5119 are part of a trio parked at Boston Bar, BC waiting to head west on a unit coal train, back in August 1975.  The pair are from a group of SD40's equipped with dynamic brakes for coal train service. Many CN SD40s were non-dynamic brake, as were a number of their SD40-2Ws. This was due to the relatively light grades encountered crossing their system, particularly in the east.

In February 16th, 1986 the Super Continental makes its station stop and crew change at Boston Bar, BC following a two day snow storm that closed Highway 1, and caused some delays in rail service. This train however was pretty much on time for its first crew change out of Vancouver on its eastbound trip. The crew of CN FP9A 6510 were nice and warm inside the cab, unlike the photographer Bill Edgar freezing outside to click off this shot! 

On February 17th, 1986, bill shot this very rare sighting in the Fraser Canyon: CN F7A 9153 and a GP38-2 lead a work train east out of Boston Bar, BC at first daylight after a blizzard had blanketed the canyon the previous couple days. This was the only F-unit in freight service he ever spotted in the Canyon since first coming here back in 1975.

The U.S. Presidents' Day weekend blizzard in British Columbia has let up a bit, but it's done its work in causing delays and highway closures. This 1986 storm was timed for a trip for Bill and a friend to photograph CN/CP in mid-February 1986, and they were snowbound in Boston Bar for 24 hours or more. It was a great experience, and offered opportunities for some unusual winter shots (for him anyway), including this night time portrait of SD50Fs 5422 and 5415 waiting for their next assignment at Boston Bar on February 15th. 

CN SW1200RS 1282 handles switching duties on the business side of the Canadian National station in Vancouver, BC on the U.S. President's Day weekend thirty years ago. Passenger trains are run by VIA and at this time both the former CN Super Continental and CP Canadian were in operation. The CP SD40-2 is on the point of the outbound Canadian offering additional support for what would turn out to be a weekend of blizzard conditions from Vancouver all the way through the Fraser and Thompson River canyons.

Arnold Mooney recorded this classic scene as CN SD40 5047 and GP38-2 5529 head westbound pass the old Canada Crushed Stone Ltd facility near mile 4, Dundas Sub. This image, while a tad grainy, shows a rather open view of the old rail siding which led up to the large screen house .

Operations before shutting down in the early 1970s consisted of stone quarried up on the mountain brow (Dundas Peak)going thru the High Brow Crusher (demo'd 1975) and then down to the Screen House (demo'd 1993)and then over the CN mainline via the gantry (demo'd 1986)conveyer belt and stockpiled on the south side for later shipping. Interesting in this image is the hopper at the base of the incline trackage.

This steep grade operated by cable pulling cars up the grade, supplies usually went this way. Perhaps this car was held back for use in removal of some equipment as the shutdown was finalized. Steetley Inc., which purchased the CCSL in 1951, maintained a small shipping facility south of the tracks until the early 1980s. Walking the area today, it is hard to imagine the landscape being so open. All that remains now is the incline bed, which is now a hiking trail; all rail is gone but a lot of old ties remain. (Arnold Mooney photo).

Geoff Elliott shot remanufactured SD4o (CN SD40u 6006) in Windsor, Ontario on July 7th 1993. While these were mainline leaders for many years, most are now in Yard service, and R/C equipped.

   

 

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