Hello Gents,

20+ years ago I first worked on the LMSX 700-series CN Leased GE Dash 8’s while working out of Dauphin, they were the first unit I ever saw with air conditioning!  These would spent their winters on the CN and the rest of the year on Conrail, hauling ore and mainline freight in a dual lease agreement between CN and CR.

Then CN bought (or maybe leased them full time, I’m not 100% sure) them from GE and renumbered them from their LMSX 700 series into the CN 2400 series behind the lower numbered Dash 8’s CN had already purchased.  But they retained their blue coat of GE Erie applied paint, in fact none of the blue birds have been painted into CN colors.  Now faded to a ratty light powder blue, they usually trail on most CN trains in Canada these days (although they use them as leaders on the DWP and IC and the American crews don’t seem to mind the cab seating arrangement).   At times standing out like a sore thumb, they fit right in on today’s colorful CN diesel fleet these days, mingling with the ex BCR red white and blue units, black IC units, grey GTW (ex-Alstom), the maroon and gold WC, the blue and white ex-Oakways, the silver and red ATSF etc etc etc.......

Mark A. Perry Winnipeg, MB

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A poor track record:

Undoubtedly, the tragic rail accident in Lac-Mégantic, QC will take years to fully investigate, and this is certainly not the time for recriminations or for playing the blame game. However, some facts have become abundantly clear: a railway with a poor accident record left an unattended train loaded with highly flammable materials parked on a steep grade, uphill from an inhabited area; there was only a one-man crew; the oil cars were prone to being easily pierced, and there were no signals or track circuits on this downgrade section of track.
We also know that the federal regulatory authorities (Transport Canada and by extension the federal government) have chosen not to enact regulations prohibiting such dangerous activities, even in light of the 28,000 per cent increase in oil train traffic over the past five years. We also know that the Harper government plans to reduce spending on rail safety to $33.8 million this year from $36.8 million in 2012, as part of its deficit-cutting strategy.
The Montreal, Main and Atlantic Railway, the railway industry and the federal government have a lot to explain.

Alex Roberts,
Halifax, NS

One of the more popular Montreal railfan hotels is closing: Just found out this evening that one of my favorite hotels in Montreal that I always stay at which has a great view of Arrivals & Departures of Central Station will be closing it doors for good on Oct 31. The Delta Centre-Ville will be converted to a University Campus after the doors close. If anyone is looking for a great place to stay with views of all the activity in/out of Central Station I highly recommend you staying there. Request a room that end in the "10's" from the 6th floor up to about the 10th floor. If that is not available request a room which views out to the entrance of Central Station between the 6th & 10th floors. This will be a perfect level to use your camera from the Hotel Room.

Here is the news release of the hotel closure.

Terry Muirhead
CRO VIA Western News Editor
Vancouver, BC.

FROM THE EDITOR:
William H. Baird
editor@canadianrailwayobservations.com

Hi all,

I would like to welcome two new CRO Staff members Joe Deagnon and Ken Chrysler. Ken will now be taking over CRO Modeller’s Corner. Ken is a talented modeler and has his own layout based on Canadian National Railways in the summer of 1958, in the town of Paris Ontario. around the time of the great transition from steam to diesel. What drew me to Ken as the best candidate was he had many new ideas for CRO Modeller’s Corner, and we will implement some of these over the next months. You can read his introduction letter in this month’s Modeller’s Corner, Ken and I look forward to see your model photos and stories.

Please WelcomeAboard our new friends to our CRO Team.

“SCHOOL IS IN NOW IN SESSION! Check out this terrific Montreal Locomotive Works locomotive report for “Trains on TV” by my buddy Ken Goslett

CRO has received a good "Webutation" A former CP GP30 is now equipped with air conditioning!

Check out the new electric locomotives ordered for Amtrak and almost ready for delivery. (via Jean-Francois Turcotte).

How is this for a bathroom?

Check your hearing protection: STEAM PARADE. CRO is also on FACEBOOK, and you may also post your photos there. Just include a caption (Date Location etc) with each post.
Enjoy the summer!

William H. Baird
Editor
editor@canadianrailwayobservations.com

The mission of CRO remains the same: to keep CRO readers informed of pertinent Canadian train news, which is compiled and verified over the month, and updated as needed. The accurate information we post each month is obtained and confirmed from our reliable sources. CRO is also a vehicle to showcase beautiful locomotive shots submitted by our readers, credit them, and help promote their photography. We never post photos, without asking the photographer for permission, once granted, they are given free CRO access for as long as this sharing relationship continues. The same goes for our valued news sources.

As our “Vignette” segments are very popular with our readers, please continue to submit non-news photos from the past.

Send your requests for future Vignette subjects and idea suggestions for CRO Special Reports.

Are you a Hobby Shop, DVD distributor, Railway Museum Tourist Railway, Rail Photographer, and wish to tap into our railfan demographic? Contact us to learn of the advertising and promotional opportunities in CRO.   editor@canadianrailwayobservations.com

Take care all,

William H. Baird CRO
Editor Montreal, QC
editor@canadianrailwayobservations.com

THANK YOU:

Guy-Pascal Arcouette, Eric Aucoin, Tim Ball, Michael Berry (CRO), Christopher Bodkin, Larry Briggs, Kenneth Borg, Martin Baumann, Dan Braun, Jay Butler, J-P Cadieux, Ian Campbell, Guilio Capuano, Andy Cassidy, Bruce Chapman, Warren Calloway, Stephen Cheasly, Christopher Clune, Lon Coone, Peter Cox, Ken Chrysler (CRO Modeler’s Corner) Michel Daoust (TSH), Jeremy Davy (WCRA), Joe Deagnon (CRO Webmaster) ,Daniel Dell’Unto, Richard Deuso, Paul Donovan, Darren Doss, Kevin Dunk, Ted Ellis, Ron Ellison, John Eull, Ray Farand, Joe Ferguson, Mark Forseille, Francois Gagne-Audet, James Gardner, Mike Garza, Chris Gertz, Jon Hall, Bruce Harvey, Tim Hayman (VIA News), Bob Heathorn, Chris van der Heide, Sean Hennessey, James Hoffman (ONR), Francois Jolin, Kim Kafura, Ken King, Wayne King, Wayne Koch, Bob Krone, Flavio Lage, James Lalande, Jean-Marc Lalonde, Ken Lanovich (CRO),David Lemke, Roman Litarchuk (CRO), Cameron Lochli, Richard Marchi, Brian Marsh, Mike and Mark Mautner, Phillip Mason, Rob McCormack, Gerald McCoy, Chris McMahon, Don McQueen (Froth), Jim McPherson, Al Melick, Bruce Mercer, Aivo Merimets, Jody Moore (Green Locomotive News), Steve Morris, Terry Muirhead (VIA News), Dan Murrell, Cal Murray, Peter Murphy (CRHA), Jacob Nelson, Jason Noe (Railpace), James Olmstead, Tim Organ, Joseph Potvin, Ken Patton, Peter Payan, Mark A. Perry, Donna Peters (CRO), Marc Primeau, John Read “GR17f” (CRO), Earl Roberts (Branchline), Mike Robin (ONR), Kris Rumbut, George Redmond, Wayne D. Shaw (ONR), Wilco van Schoonhoven (CP), Cor van Steenis (CP), Erik Shicotte, Avrom Shtern (AMT),  Nick Smith, Paul Smith, Jason Tarasenko (J&L), Lorence Toutant, Jean-François Turcotte (AMT News),  Ron Visockis, Dennis Weber, Craig Williams, Alex Wood (CRO), Randy Zarowny, Mark Zulkoskey.  My thanks as well to our many CRO Facebook contributors, the Bridge Line Historical Society, Tempo Jr. the Canadian Trackside Guide, and our good friends at Railpictures.net.  Merci Don, Marc, Patrick, Peter, Mike, James, John, Michel, Denis, Richard, Antonio, Mustafa, et tous mes amis à la St-Luc Diesel Shop.

SUBMIT AN OBSERVATION

New issues of CRO are posted each month on our website. News stories pertaining to Canadian railways, photos, comments, favourite links, and questions are always welcome. Please send us your photos, newsworthy sightings and railway stories and if used, will be placed in the CRO newsletter.  Please indicate if you wish your name to be withheld. If your own website pertains to Canadian railways, please contact us. Submissions should be sent to  "CRO Editor" editor@canadianrailwayobservations.com

© CRO August 2013