CP LOCOMOTIVE UPDATES

We have confirmed that CP FP9A 1401 is now being completed at the RELCO Shop in Albia, IA.  It is still unknown what the paint Scheme will look like, as it is apparently "Special Request" CP livery. So it could be anything at all, including the CP Business train paint scheme.   The locomotive has been completely rebuilt.  The refurbishment includes an EM2000 computer, and its own HEP equipment making it an F38A-3 of sorts!  

 Canadian Pacific Script-painted CP GP38-2 3084 was released from repairs in Winnipeg, MB and has returned to service currently working north of Calgary in the Edmonton area.  Back on October 2015, she was working in Scotford, Alberta (North east of Edmonton), when on AC05-30, CP 3084 was pulling into the spur at the SUNCOR oil facility with light engines as lead unit when she derailed and punctured her fuel tank. 

 CP GP38-2 RCL and Overhaul program:  

 CP is continuing installations of Remote Control (R/C) equipment on their GP38AC/GP38-2 units at both CADRAIL in Montreal, and at NRE in Silvis. IL  According to our contacts at NRE, an RCL install takes approximately 7 to 10 Days to complete.   The program can sometimes include overhauling the locomotive to Tier 0+ compliance, and upgrading with AESS (Automatic Engine Start/Stop), and full CP repaint.   

NEWEST UNITS to arrive at NRE:

No new CP units arrived during the month of May due to a lack of needed parts for the CP GP38-2 upgrades.  However, as we went to press these parts had arrived,and more CP GP38-2's are expected at NRE Silvis shortly.   The last to arrive at NRE were CP GP38-2 3080 (April 19th), and was moved inside the shop on April 28th, and CP GP38-2 3094 (April 28th ) and was moved inside in May 3rd). 

UNITS RELEASED from NRE back to CP:

 CP GP38-2 3023

 IN PROGRESS at NRE:

 CP GP38-2 4417 - (ex-SOO) is now in Candy Apple Red and lettered. It is expected to be released just after we go to press June 1st.

CP GP40 4608 - (ex-SOO) stripping and sand blasting complete. The  rewiring is now underway and she will get prepped for the painting process.

CP GP38-2 7311 - (ex-D&H) Work in Progress on her Engineering Overhaul.

CP GP38AC 3000 - is in software and static testing (No Repaint scheduled)

CP GP38AC 3002 - is in software and static testing (No Repaint scheduled)

CP GP38AC 3016 - is in software and static testing (No Repaint scheduled because their repaints were done not that long ago and unnecessary.

SOO GP40N 2066 (nee-MILW GP40) – Installation of Nexsys III with LSI and DB Mechanical Governor completed, wiring will be completed by Month end, then it will get repainted.

Interestingly, SOO SD60 6033 is at NRE for wreck repairs.  The locomotive was undergoing the repairs in May.  As shown in the photos, a repaint will be needed as the repairs are extensive! 

Former CP SW1200RS 1250 now owned by NRE, was also getting work on the same shop track beside her former Soo Line colleague!  She is owned by National Railway Equipment, and was acquired from CP back in 2013.

The only CP Remote Control GP38-2 currently being done at Cadrail is

(Former SOO) CP 4404. The last GP38-2's released from CAD with the RCL system, ZTR, cab modifications and repaint were CP 4442, 4508, and 4433 which were completed in January 2016.  No others are waiting for work on the property at present.

 SOO SD60 overhaul - Contract Completed:

 CAD Railway Industries (Lachine, QC), completed the former SOO LINE SD60 and SD60M overhaul and repaint contract for the Canadian Pacific Railway in August 2013. The overhauls included Tier 0+ compliance, installation of AESS (Locomotive Automatic Engine Start/Stop) to conserve fuel.  All are in Candy Apple Red and renumbered into the CP 6200-series, and each received (PTC) Positive Train Control modifications at the CP St-Luc Diesel Shop. They did not get any cab upgrades however. 

 CP SD60's and SD60M's released from CAD during 2012 and 2013: CP 6221, 6222, 6223, 6225, 6228, 6229, 6230, 6231, 6232, 6234, 6236, 6238, 6239, 6240, 6241, 6242, 6245, 6243, 6246, 6247, 6248, 6249, 6250, 6251, 6252, 6254, 6255, 6256, 6257, 6258, 6259, 6260, and 6262.  All are in service, and equipped as leaders.

 The SOO LINE painted SD60's status as of April 2016:

 SOO 6026, 6027, 6035, 6037 and 6053 all remain in service.

SOO 6024 and 6044 are still stored unserviceable since Dec 31st, 2015

In late-April 2016, SOO SD60 6033 was sent to NRE in Silvis for wreck repairs which are currently underway.

 CP SD30C-ECO  latest order Completed:

All CP SD30C-ECO units from the second order have been delivered, and are in service:  The final pair (CP 5048 and 5049), were released from the plant in Mexico on March 20th, 2016.  

The first 20 unit order of SD30C-ECO units built at EMD/Progress Rail in Mayfield, KY, was completed back in January 2014. CP 5000-5019, are all in service and since April 2015 were reassigned from Shorham Shop in St-Paul, Minnesota, to Golden, BC  

CP GP20C-ECO all three orders completed:

CP's third order for 60 CP GP20C-ECO units (2270-2329) was completed last year, with the delivery of the final units CP 2316, 2321, 2328 and 2329 arriving on January 26th, 2015, and CP 2287, on January 31st.  2015. These EMD Muncie, IN-built locomotives are brand new, with only the Blomberg trucks, and air compressor salvaged from the retired GP9u's.

 The first order of 30 GP20C-ECO units

CP 2200-2229 are assigned to St. Paul, MN.    

 The second order has the following Canadian assigned units;

CP 2230-2249 are assigned to Alyth Yard, in Calgary, AB.

CP 2250-2269 are assigned to Toronto Yard.

 The third order of GP20C-ECO units is complete, with CP 2270-2329 assigned as follows:

St. Paul, MN: 2270, 2271, 2272, 2273, 2274, 2277, 2278, 2302, 2306, 2324, 2325;

Moose Jaw, SK: 2275, 2276, 2285, 2289, 2294, 2296, 2297, 2298, 2301, 2305, 2309, 2318, 2322, 2326;

Toronto, ON: 2279, 2280, 2281, 2282, 2286, 2288, 2290, 2292, 2307, 2319;

Winnipeg, MB : 2283, 2284, 2291, 2299, 2304, 2308, 2312, 2313, 2315, 2317;

Calgary, AB: 2287, 2293, 2295, 2300, 2303, 2310, 2311, 2314, 2316, 2320, 2321, 2323, 2327.

Golden, BC: 2234, 2245, 2328 and 2329.

 On May 26th, 2016 Steve Koop Angelicola photographed CP GP20C-ECO 2251 leading the CP FRA Tech Train, as it was approaching Wadhams Siding at CP 132, on the D&H in upper New York State.

 CP leased locomotives roundup: (By Bruce Chapman and Earl Roberts)

CEFX AC4400CW: 1002, 1006, 1007, 1014, 1018-1020, 1023, 1024, and 1026-1059, are all reported to be in service.  (Andy Cassidy photo) 

CP PHOTOS

Walter Pfefferle just returned from a trip to Elkhart IN to catch the Norfolk Southern OCS. Pictures are posted in the South of the Border section. Here we see CP 96343 leading CP 5037 east through Butler IN May 24 2016.

In Elkhart IN he caught CP 893 leading CSX 5380 past the AMTRAK Station May 25 2016

For the past while Kevin Dunk has been hearing RR radio chatter about the "signals" at Sparwood, BC, but he had never known any to be located there.  On May 1st, 2016, he drove to Sparwood to check it out and discovered a whole set of brand new signals!  A small island of CTC boxes much like Fort Steele, but in this case, much more robust in size.  

 Kevin's first photo shows three of the new masts, including the big cantilever one at MP17.8, there's a fourth mast just west of the Finning Caterpillar compound at the end of the Sparwood Yard (west of here, behind photographer).  To add some drama I've included a train CP ES44AC 8884 and AC4400CW 8625 are seen passing the cantilever signals with a general manifest freight.  Sad news, the old buildings that used to be there are sadly all gone, and he included  an early photo taken at the same location taken back in 2010 for comparison. 

 One other bit of news is the sudden appearance of the CP Sparwood Facility, attached image and seen below.  It appears CP acquired the old apartments in brown, and converted the building to a bunkhouse, and added a few new buildings as well.  Currently it is being used by train crews, possibly CP are intending on running the Lethbridge crews to Sparwood, on a more regular basis ( agues only), and  it could be a matter of time maybe before the Crowsnest Sub is extended to Sparwood perhaps?  It is only 17 miles , just a thought (KD).

Kevin shot this train at a new spot he found near Lundbreck Falls, Alberta but this time doing a reverse angle.  Under great sunshine and sitting atop "Poop Hill", he calls it so after witnessing all the "poop" left on the small knoll by pesky gophers!  Anyway, we see westbound loaded U.S. grain with UP ES44AC 5550 and SD70M 4679 sifting through the cut at MP75.9 on the Crowsnest Sub. While unseen rear DPU CP AC4400CW 9609 is still working the hill from Lundbreck Falls about a mile back.

Some of you might have noticed a similarity with the these shots, the same power but this time at a brand new location - CPR's Riley siding on the Cranbrook Sub.  I've been wanting to get to this spot for some time, and when my Aussie mate (Charlie Harris) was visiting we decided to check it out.  This shot has CP ES44AC 8884 with CP AC4400CW 8625 climbing the steep grade out of Ft Steele with a westbound general manifest as Lakit Mountain in the background gazes onto the valley.  The other thing I wanted to bring up was the "For Sale" sign on the locomotive, a bit of railway sarcasm perhaps? 

This shot was taken just 4 miles further west, has CP GP20C-ECO 2329 and SD30C-ECO 5006 working train V19 the "McConnel Turn" climbing up the same grade from Ft Steele with a load of coal bound for Castlegar's pulp mill and Tech's Trail smelter power plants.  The combo of ECO's has become a new operating practice as of late for the Golden Wayfreights, and of course the McConnel Turn, and the Trail, BC Hotshots out of Nelson as well

On May 5th Ron Visockis clicked CP ES44AC 9356 and CEFX AC4400CW 1048 expediting a hot shot eastbound stack train, destined to Montreal. 

On May 18th, Ron caught am Armor yellow bird (UP 8901), pushing on the tail end of CP #650 at Belleville, ON with ES44AC CP 8904 leading the train. 

On May 8th, Dennis Weber clicked DM&E Train 471 with a very colourful consist:  RCP&E 3431, RCP&E 6442, NS 8000, CP 8885, and RCP&E  6418 rolling through Stockton, MN. 

On April 17th, Walter Pfefferle snapped this Full House:  CP 8750 and CP 8706 along with CP 8857 and CP 8615 waiting at CP Nissouri to get into London Ontario. CP 8750 was tied down with about 8000 feet of multis. On April 17th, 2016.

Richard Marchi shot CP GP38-2 7305 at St-Luc Diesel Shop in Montreal on October 12th, 2015 in faded CP Rail System livery. This EMD LaGrange-built locomotive is ex-Delaware and Hudson, nee-Lehigh Valley. 

Ron Visockis shot CP 9677-8606 E-B past the track gang at Pentecostal Rd ON April 9th, 2016.

On April 13th, Ron Visockis clicked CP 9751 and 8647 passing through  Belleville East. ON.

 Chad Smith caught CP 235 at Thamesford, Ontario (located at Mile 101 on the Galt Sub), with CP 8936 and 8868 leading.  

He also bagged more GE's on an eastbound at another view point in Thamesford with CP 8830 and 8938. Both photos taken on May 22nd, 2016.

Luc Lanthier was in Montreal the afternoon of May 11th, and shot train 142 and 143 near at the Lachine Intermodal Terminal.