BOMBARDIER TRANSPORTATION CANADA
After months of saying troubles at Bombardier would not impact the region's light rail vehicles, officials now say at least two trains will be late. "There's concern of course because there's a delay, but the delay is quite manageable at this point in time," said Coun. Tom Galloway, who chairs the committee overseeing light rail. "If the slippage or the delay were to be greater, then it could become an issue." The first train for the Region of Waterloo's light rail transit project will be delayed by two months to October and the final, fourteenth vehicle will be delayed by four months to May 2017. Thomas Schmidt, commissioner of transportation and environmental services, said several minor problems in the manufacturing process have added up to the delay. "That's really what we're running into," he said. "There's a series of these minor issues that need to be addressed and they've gotten to a point where they now are resulting in that two-month delay."
Officials say the delays won't impact the overall schedule for the light rail transit project, with trains expected to start running 19 kilometres of track between Conestoga Mall in Waterloo and Fairview Park mall in Kitchener in late 2017. Marc-Andre Lefebvre, head of communications with Bombardier Canada, said the company is working to ensure the vehicles are delivered quickly and in good repair. "We are actively resolving some issues in our supply chain that have slightly hindered our delivery schedule, and we are working to mitigate the impact of these challenges," he said. "We are deploying all necessary resources to ensure that we build and deliver the high quality vehicles the Region of Waterloo is expecting."
The region is piggybacking on a Metrolinx contract for approximately 170 vehicles, including streetcars for the Toronto Transit Commission. The commission's order has been plagued by quality problems and resulted in some streetcars being rejected. Regional politicians approved the $92.4-million deal for Bombardier trains in July 2013 and have been monitoring the issue. Regional staff, consultants and representatives from Crown corporation Metrolinx have undertaken inspections at the Thunder Bay site in past to ensure quality of the vehicles. Parts for the region's trains are manufactured in Mexico and production of the trains takes place in Thunder Bay. Another trip is planned in May. Despite the train delay and several delays at various sections along the route, officials expect to meet the target date for service to launch in late 2017. Schmidt said that's the region's main concern and are changes made in construction and other plans to adapt. "That's our target date and there are adjustments that are made," he said. "It's not that any of these delays happen in a vacuum." The region and GrandLinq are investigating new construction methods and ways to ramp up construction to meet the region's projected launch, according to a staff report.
GrandLinq is bound by a project agreement with the region to meet certain timelines and standards, with penalties for failure. It sets out milestone completion dates for sections of the route. According to the project agreement, the penalty for not meeting those targets is almost $23,000 per day. With more than a year left to completion, about $434 million of the anticipated $818 million in capital costs for the project had been spent at the end of February, with another $326 million committed. Galloway was cautiously optimistic the project will be on budget. "Right now it's tracking well, but I don't think anybody wants to be so bold as to say there won't be another road or another issue that comes up. Who knows what could happen," he said. (The RECORD) http://www.therecord.com/news-story/6493556-bombardier-lrt-vehicles-delayed/
BBD NEWS PAGES: http://www.bombardier.com/en/home.html
GENERAL ELECTRIC TRANSPORTATION
At San Antonio Texas, John Karges photographed the GE "Next Fuel" ES44AC (GECX 3000) at the SWRI Locomotive Technology Center on July 13th, 2015
The Southwest Research Institute has more than 40 years of medium-speed locomotive engine research experience, SWRI continues to be the leading independent engineering firm in this field. Our work with the locomotive industry began in 1965 with the EMD Silver Lubricity test program that continues today. They have a long-standing association with the nation's rail industry conducting a wide variety of lubricant, fuels, and engine development related programs. Emphasis is in the 1980s was on operating locomotive engines using alternative fuels such as vegetable oils, natural gas, LPG, and coal dust. The Gas Rail program in the 90s allowed SwRI and several industry partners to develop an EMD 12-710 to operate on either 100% diesel or 95% LNG. Operation on LNG resulted in a 75% reduction of NOX emissions while matching diesel engine performance.
With the introduction of emission control standards for locomotives, interest shifted to emissions testing, certification programs, and after treatment hardware development at the turn of the century. In addition to large engine test cells on SWRI's main campus, a locomotive emissions test center near downtown San Antonio was established to facilitate working with engines installed in locomotives. The facility was established in 1990 for the Association of American Railroads, and to date, more than 150 locomotives have been tested at this site. Included in these tests have been projects for EPA, CARB, the California DOT (CADOT), DOE, AAR, individual railroads, and original equipment manufacturers.
Past locomotive engine projects include
Development of exhaust emissions test procedures
Baseline exhaust emissions studies
Effects of injection timing and after cooling
Field testing of in-use locomotives
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) fuel effects study
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) biodiesel studies
Developmental support to meet EPA Tier 0 and Tier I requirements
For more on the GE EVOLUTION SERIES Locomotives, click on this link:
http://www.getransportation.com/locomotives/locomotives/evolution
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Ruperto Gutierrez caught BNSF6573 and 4244 leading brand new Canadian National ET44AC CN 3053, 3060, 3057, 3063, 3059, 3062, 3056 and 3049, on March 23rd, from the GE plant and heading North for interchange and delivery to CN at Chicago. |
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GMD LONDON VIGNETTES
Bill Edgar photographed GMD-built GP60M (ATSF 114) looking splendid in Warbonnet paint Back in 1991, Superfleet power dominated railfan interest as Santa Fe added a touch of class to their freight operations. GP60M shows off its flamboyant color scheme while waiting for servicing at Corwith Yard in Chicago. A scheme made a nice contrast to the yellow and blue scheme, which also was quite attractive.
Steve Kakocski photographed brand new GMD London-built BNSF SD70M 8260 and 8261 at BNSF's Clyde Engine facility in Cicero, IL in 1996.
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Brand new Union Pacific SD60M 6101 poses for the photographer in London, Ontario back in January 1989. (Bill Grandin Coll.). |
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Factory fresh UP SD60M's sit together in London, ON in early 1989. |
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Fresh from the plant on January 2nd, 1990, BN SD60M 9206 wears the newest Burlington Northern "White Face" paint scheme, designed for their modern GMD-built wide cab units. This new paint scheme was also later done on BN's standard cab GE and EMD units. |
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In March 1989, brand new Soo Line SD60 6026 was shot on the test track at London, ON. |
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On November 17th, 1989, brand new Soo Line SD60M's are lined up for delivery at London, ON. |
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A real "Golden Oldie" here as VR EMD B12 #521 was shot demonstrating at Port Credit Ontario on April 2nd, 1953. (Bill Grandin Photo Collection). |
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Over 30 years later, brand new UP SD9043MAC 8160 with siblings in London, Ontario in June 1987. Now off the roster, this UP road number is now assigned to their GE-built AC45CCTE locomotive fleet. (Bill Grandin collection). |
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A FORMER CN GMD1 in Cuba! (Note the mismatched trucks!) (From Ken Goslett)
Probably the oddest GMD-1 locomotives can be found in the extensive fleet belonging to Ferrocarriles de Cuba (FCC). The fleet comprises 20 GMD-1 locomotives, numbered 51201 to 52220. At least ten of these locomotives have a 1000-series A1A truck at the front and an 1100-series Bo truck at the rear, making them the world's only five-axle GMD-1 locos! n the 1990s the GMD-1 locomotives were playing a game of "Swap the Truck." The 6-axle 1600s were rebuilt into 4-axle 1400s; the 1400s got trucks from 1100s; some 1100s got 1600-series trucks; etc. After the game was over a bunch of locomotive engineers in Cuba looked down at their engines and discovered that they had one of each truck. And don't get me started on the fuel tanks..
The CN 1100 series that were sold to Cuba were initially fitted with Bo-Bo trucks, but these proved to be too heavy for the light Cuban railway infrastructure. So the FCC bought a bunch of the A-1-A truck's from Canac (left over and sitting around after the 1100 series rebuild program), and fitted the front end of the GMD-1's with these used three axle trucks. While many retained the B-B truck under the cab, there were many that were fitted with two A-1-A trucks as originally built, as well. (Ken Goslett).
Departing Montreal in mid-April were former AMXX, ex-RBRX nee-GO F59PH LTEX 18523, 18524, and 18531 which had previously been leased to AMT. Two were shot at the St-Luc Diesel Shop on April 20th. The three LTEX F59PH units were waybilled to (AMP) American Motive Power in Dansville, NY, and by press time should be at destination. American Motive Power does overhaul, remanufacturing, truck repair, rewiring and other electrical upgrades and repainting of only EMD and GMD-built units. LTEX F59PH 18523 was seen on CSX Q 165 on April 22nd, 2016 at Willard Ohio, enroute to AMP, and arrived in late April.
http://www.americanmotivepower.com/
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On April 20th, a blue Toronto Rapid Transit car arrived at CAD in Lachine, QC loaded on a flat bed truck. It is from the Scarborough Rapid Transit ICTS, but the work required or reason for its delivery is unknown. The line runs entirely above ground, and is similar in some ways to Vancouver's Skytrain. |
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The following locomotives (CP 8727 and CP 4404) departed Cadrail and arrived in St-Luc Diesel Shop on April 20th. They were shot At Cadrail just before they were moved to the interchange spur to CP. |
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NEW ARRIVALS - (UPDATED April 29th, 2016)
QGRY 6920 - arrived in mid-April
GO 2504 - arrived in mid-April
The LTEX (Larry's Truck & Electric) units will be rebuilt as follows:
GP39-3M conversion:
LTEX 3903 (ex 2536) - Completed in March
LTEX 3904 (ex 2563) - Completed in April
LTEX 3905 (ex 2566)
LTEX 3906 (ex 2578) - Completed in March
GP38-3M conversion:
LTEX 3815 (ex 2588) - Completed in February LTEX 3815 was previously sent to RSI in Minneapolis, but was returned to CAD.
INSIDE THE SHOP - (UPDATED April 26th, 2016)
CADRAIL 2001 - RS23 for yard collision Repairs
CEFX 2015 - GP20D for Unknown
CP 4404 - GP38-2 RCL and Repaint
CP 8639 - AC4400CW Repairs
CP 8640 - AC4400CW Wreck repairs
CP 9574 - AC4400CW Repairs
CSXT 9993 - F40PH-2 for Unknown
GMTX 312 - (ex-CP 1428) in blue paint is soon to be released.
GMTX 331 - (ex-SOO 1553) in blue paint is soon to be released
LTEX 3812 -GP38-3M (ex-Ann Arbor GP38) in overhaul process
LTEX 3906 - GP39-3M completed and repainted but not released yet.
LTEX 3815 - GP38-3M (ex-LTEX 2588) previously sent to RSI in Minneapolis, but returned to CAD.
VIA 901 for complete repaint
RPRX RP20BD 5401 - In long-term storage outside.
LTEX F40PH-2 270 remains stored on Cadrail property.
RELEASED in APRIL
AMT 1324
CEFX 2032
CP 4404
CP 8504
CP 8520
CP 8630
CP 8711
CP 8727
CP 8729
CP 8731
CP 8863
CP 9515
CP 9523
CP 9554
CP 9566
CP 9643
CP 9766
CP 9766
LTEX 3903 - Repainted Completed (ex-LTEX 2536)
LTEX 3904 - Repainted Completed (ex LTEX 2563)
(They have been delivered to the Kettle Falls RR, via BNSF
Chicago).
LTEX 18523
LTEX 18524
LTEX 18531
(All three F59PH locomotives have been sent to AMP in Dansville, NY).
RELEASED in MARCH
CP 9503 -Released and stored in St-Luc Yard.
CP 9522 - Released and stored on CP
CP 9538 -Released and stored in St-Luc Yard.
CP 9538 -Released and stored in St-Luc Yard.
CP 9538 -Released and stored in St-Luc Yard
CP 9524 -Released and to be stored on CP
CP 9643 -Released after repairs
CP 8711 - Released after repairs
CP 8738- Released after repairs
QGRY 3014 - Released after Nose and Cab repairs to CP for QGRY.
CSXT F40PH-2 9993 (Former AMTK F40PHR 395) arrived at CADRAIL in March 2016 for an unknown scope of work. CSXT F40-PHR, (is not an F40PH-2), and is from Amtrak EMD Order #847048: Date 08.85 Model F40PHR (AMTK 391-400 series). It was later rebuilt using components from an SDP40-PH onto a new 4 axle F40 frame. Several F40's were rebuilt from retired SDP40 6 axle units.
CADRAIL continues to do truck swap outs of designated locomotives from the Canadian Pacific Railway GE-fleet. Our visits to see the released units at St-Luc Diesel Shop show that they have had Hi-Ad trucks switched to the Steerable trucks, or vice-versa.
CADRAIL (and NRE-Silvis, IL) continue to install Cattron remote control equipment into GP38AC and GP38-2 locomotives for the Canadian Pacific Railway's RCL Program. Those seen completed at St-Luc Diesel wear new paint and have all new antennas and strobe lights, and visible Remote Control modifications.
CADRAIL 2001, which is former CP 8024 (an MLW-built RS-23) was damaged in January 2015.
GO/AMT COMMUTER CARS:
GO TRANSIT / METROLINX commuter cars at CAD for overhaul and conversion to Bi-Level V standards. The list shows the commuter cars on the property undergoing the overhaul process, and those already released:
GO IN THE SHOP:
GO 2047 (Arrived in March) GO 2018 (arrived in February), GO 2002, 2033 (Arrived in December), joining GO 2035, 2036, 2037, 2048, 2051, 2061, and 2078 already there..
GO RELEASED:
Departing Cadrail February 23rd 2016 was GO 2035, the first Bi-Level 1 upgrade of this series to be completed at CAD three years ago, and had been used as their prototype example. It is now back in Toronto commuter service after three years inside CADRAIL in Montreal!
GO 2415, 2416, 2418, 2433, 2430, 2434, 2435, 2436, 2442, 2447, 2450, 2451, 2452, 2453, and 2455, all in 2016, except *2499 was released in December 2015.
AMT AT THE SHOP:
AMT 2032 arrived in March.
AMT 2018, 2020 and 2036 (in Progress)
CADRAIL has been contracted by the Agence Metropolitaine de Transport for modernization and door refurbishment on a number of AMT 2000-series Montreal commuter coaches.
AMT RELEASED:
AMT F59PHI 1323 Repaired and released in Late February
AMT 2035 released in Late February
VIA RAIL LRC cars at CADRAIL for Refurbishment
LRC NEW ARRIVALS:
VIA LRC 3473
VIA LRC 3466
(LRC) CURRENTLY INSIDE:
VIA 3307, 3323, 3458, and 3459.
(LRC) COMPLETED/RELEASED:
VIA 3466 (Released in April)
VIA 3309 (Released in March)
VIA 3311, 3463 (Released in February)
VIA 3312, 3324, 3467 (Released in January)
On October 27th 2012, Eric Aucoin caught F59PH RBRX-18533 in new MI-TRAIN paint released from the Cad Railway Industries shop. The engine (was to be the of possibly 8 units) leased long term by RB Railway Leasing to the Michigan Department of Transportation for a new intercity service called Mi-TRAIN. The locomotive was picked up by CN outside the plant and lifted to Taschereau Yard where Eric got these two great shots of the unit on October 27th.The locomotive went to Great Lake Central Railroad in Owosso, MI for demonstration, but the project was scrapped and the locomotive returned to enter AMT service for a short period in this paint scheme! SEMCOG Commuter Rail (also known as Mi-Train) was a planned regional rail link along Amtrak's Wolverine route between the cities of Ann Arbor and Detroit, Michigan-a total length of 38.5 miles (62.0 km)-with stops at new or existing stations in Ann Arbor, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Ypsilanti, Dearborn, and New Center (Detroit). The project would connect with a proposed Detroit bus rapid transit service and the under-construction M-1 Rail system. If it had been implemented SEMCOG would lease the rail cars from the Great Lakes Central Railroad and locomotives from Cadrail.
Scott Young clicked TP-C 70 Switcher (FWDX 0002), Leetonia OH, January, 2016. The TP 70 was built at Altoona Works last year. The first TP C- trucked swtcher ever (TP-56 #5601) was built in November 2013 at Squamish, BC, and after some demonstrations garnered no sales, she was sold to Parish & Heimbecker Ltd on December 12, 2014. The switcher useds a Cat C9 375 hp tier 3 engine on a single EMD 6-axle truck.
On the property:
Sudbury's Diesel Electric Services has received Vale GP38M-4 (VAEX 2002). Here is VAEX 2002 with sibling VAEX 2005, which Ken Reise shot in the yard in December 2013 in Sudbury, ON.
As well a modified baggage car
with fairly fresh paint was photographed by Ken Reiss behind the shop wearing
the reporting marks RPCX 009667.
Baggage 9667 was built by NSC in March 1958 as CN 9296, then
renumbered to CN 9667, then to VIA 9667, and then sold to a private owner.
On the Property in April:
CN Slug 202
CN Slug 231
CN Slug 223
CN C44-9W 2565
CN GP38-2 4726
CN GP38-2W 4777
CN GP9RM 7022
CN GP9RM 7029 (has a new snow plow attached to the repaired pilot at the top one in this photo)
http://www.imc-info.com/pilotplows.html
ESSO SW900 7920 (Engine repair and broken crank)
CN GP9RM 7255
CN GP9RM 7264
LDSX (Ex- S3 Slug) 269
LDSX 7316 (ex-CN GP39-2 part source located beside the shop)
LDSX painted Trackmobile
NCLX 902
SSRX SW900 911 was not seen but is believed to be now inside the shop. SSRX 911 is an EMD switcher used by GE in Chemical Valley, which was in need of more repairs after an onsite incident it rolled away and sideswiped by the yard job (CN GP9RM 7029) after being spotted at LDS on their shop lead back in February. (Photos are in the CRO March issue).
ESSO SW900 7920 has been at the LDS Shop for many months. It was assigned to the Esso Chemical plant in Sarnia, ON and is former CANAC nee-CN 7920, that was repainted in the late 1980's in Pointe St-Charles shop in Montreal. On April 28th, 2012 Jay Butler snapped SW900 7920 through a chain link fence working the Esso Chemical plant in Sarnia, ON.
NCLX SW1000 40 has been plagued with
failures and has been sent to LDS several times over the years. This shot of
her and NCLX MP1500D 2003 at LDS by Jon Hall was taken back in 2013.
Following extensive repairs and repaint, HCRY GP40-2LW 3013 was returned to the Huron Central Railway from the NRE shop in Capreol, Ontario on March 17th. It was quickly returned to service on the HCRY.
Here is an APRIL 28th, 2016 snapshot by Ken Reiss, of the locomotives currently on the property outside the NRE Capreol Diesel Repair Shop:
GCK #144 (Alco S2)
NREX #2690 (ex-UP SD40M-2)
NREX #2735 (ex-UP SD40M-2)
NREX #2743 (ex-UP SD40M-2)
NREX #2754 (ex-UP SD40M-2)
NREX #2755 (ex-UP SD40M-2)
NREX #5567 (ex-CP SD40-2)
NREX #5620 (ex-CP SD40-2)
NREX #5644 (ex-CP SD40-2)
NREX #5654 (ex-StLH SD40-2)
NREX #5665 (ex-CP SD40-2)
NREX #5771 (ex-CP SD40-2 B unit)
April 5th 2016 was a busy day on the main line after the Ontario Northland Railways North bound freight train derailed. But back at the shop Crews continued to work sorting freight in the yard and inside continued work in the fabrication shops on a number of projects. By surprise one of those projects was the second Polar bear express coaches. Displaying her blue paint in the April sun; Crews shuffle cars from the Grunge booth where this coach was left for further work. (Photos by CRO Ontario News Editor -Patrick McKie).
Brand new NREX 700 was shot by Mike Garza at NRE in Dixmoor, IL on April 17th, 2016 lettered for Richardson. This was the very first 1GS7B locomotive built by NRE.
On November 14th, 2011, R. Robert Waricjk clicked R J. Corman RP20BD #5400 in the new paint scheme at Dover, Ohio.
Mark Forseille spied the ECO22 demonstrator EMDX 7102 (ex CP GP9u 1637) at Port Coquitlam, BC. September 6th, 2008. CP must have been impressed, as a few years later they began retiring the GP9u's from the roster, and ordered the GP20C-ECO production model to replace them.
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