CANADIAN NATIONAL

 Motive Power News

 

New GE ES44AC locomotives :

CN 2800-2825 are confirmed on the property assigned to trains west of Edmonton, AB.  On February 23rd, CN 2829, 2830 and 2831 arrived in Toronto with CN 2826, 2827, and 2828 expected by press time.  The remainder of the AC fleet are still being constructed.     

Norfolk Southern Buffalo -Ft. Erie Ontario transfer H3R delivered three new ES44AC units: CN 2829, 2930 and 2831 on February 22nd.  Please note NS 6912 has the new “Crescent Cab”.  The GE trio  were left at the CN yard and then forwarded to Toronto an CN #422. 

 

New EMD SD70ACe locomotives (still to come):

CN`s 30 new SD70ACe`s which are CN’s first Electro Motive-built AC locomotives, are expected to begin construction later this year, numbered CN 8100-8129. 

In total, CN will acquire 65 new high-horsepower locomotives and is splitting the new locomotive order in two, with GE delivering 35  ES44AC 4,400 hp locomotives during 2013, and EMD building 30 SD70ACe 4,300 hp locomotives all equipped with Distributed Power (DPU) technology.

 

CN’s Second Hand Power:

CN Dash 8-40C / C40-8W STATUS as of FEBRUARY 2013

CREX 9023-9064, the first of 42 C40-8s (4000 hp) being numbered CN 2000-2041 are on the property. These are ex-UP same numbers, nee-CNW 8501-8542, and the second group of ex-UP, nee-CNW Dash 8’s that CN has purchased.  These are to be painted at Centralia with some to be completed at either Metro East Industries (MEI) in East St. Louis, IL. or at Quality Rail in Madison, IL.  These CREX C40-8’s were constructed at GE - Erie, PA  in 1989, as CNW 8501-8530, and as CNW 8531-8542 during 1990.  When Union Pacific  acquired the Chicago & North Western Railroad  they got numbered UP 9023-9064, but not in sequence.  When retired by UP during 2008 and 2009, they were sold to Citicorp Railmark and retained their UP livery and road number, with CREX on the cab sides.  Prior to being purchased by CN last year, these had been leased to CSX.

Compiled below are all the ex-UP Dash 8-40C s and ex-BNSF C40-8W’s acquired by CN, including the newest Dash 8’s from CREX now added to  the CN roster:    (Our thanks to Earl Roberts for his help) 


Dash 8-40C:

     NEW        FORMER NUMBERS                            SERIAL    NEW    FORMER NUMBERS     SERIAL

    2000:2    CREX 9023;  UP 9023;  CNW 8501    46085        2100:2    UP 9065;  CNW 8553    46781
    2001:2    CREX 9024;  UP 9024;  CNW 8502    46086        2101:2    UP 9066;  CNW 8554     46782
    2002:2    CREX 9025;  UP 9025;  CNW 8503    46087        2102:2    UP 9067;  CNW 8555    46783
    2003:2    CREX 9026;  UP 9026;  CNW 8514    46098        2103:2    UP 9068;  CNW 8556    46784
    2004:2    CREX 9027;  UP 9027;  CNW 8505    46089        2104:2    UP 9069;  CNW 8557    46785
    2005:2    CREX 9028;  UP 9028;  CNW 8506    46090        2105:2    UP 9070;  CNW 8558    46786
    2006:2    CREX 9029;  UP 9029;  CNW 8507    46091        2106:2    UP 9071;  CNW 8559    46787
    2007:2    CREX 9030;  UP 9030;  CNW 8508    46092        2107:2    UP 9072;  CNW 8560    46788
    2008:2    CREX 9031;  UP 9031;  CNW 8509    46093        2108:2    UP 9073;  CNW 8561    46789
    2009:2    CREX 9032;  UP 9032;  CNW 8510    46094        2109:2    UP 9074;  CNW 8562    46790
    2010:2    CREX 9033;  UP 9033;  CNW 8511    46095        2110:2    UP 9075;  CNW 8563    46791
    2011:2    CREX 9034;  UP 9034;  CNW 8513    46088        2111:2    UP 9076;  CNW 8564    46792
    2012:2    CREX 9035;  UP 9035;  CNW 8504    46097        2112:2    UP 9077;  CNW 8565    46793
    2013:2    CREX 9036;  UP 9036;  CNW 8520    46104        2113:2    UP 9078;  CNW 8566    46794
    2014:2    CREX 9037;  UP 9037;  CNW 8515    46099        2114:2    UP 9079;  CNW 8567    46795
    2015:2    CREX 9038;  UP 9038;  CNW 8516    46100        2115:2    UP 9080;  CNW 8568    46796
    2016:2    CREX 9039;  UP 9039;  CNW 8512    46096        2116:2    UP 9081;  CNW 8569    46797
    2017:2    CREX 9040;  UP 9040;  CNW 8518    46102        2117:2    UP 9082;  CNW 8570    46798
    2018:2    CREX 9041;  UP 9041;  CNW 8519    46103        2118:2    UP 9083;  CNW 8571    46799
    2019:2    CREX 9042;  UP 9042;  CNW 8523    46107        2119:2    UP 9084;  CNW 8572    46800
    2020:2    CREX 9043;  UP 9043;  CNW 8521    46105        2120       UP 9085;  CNW 8573    46801
    2021:2    CREX 9044;  UP 9044;  CNW 8522    46106        2121       UP 9086;  CNW 8574    46802
    2022:2    CREX 9045;  UP 9045;  CNW 8525    46109        2122       UP 9087;  CNW 8575    46803
    2023:2    CREX 9046;  UP 9046;  CNW 8524    46108        2123       UP 9088;  CNW 8576    46804
    2024:2    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:

    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

 

CN/GMTX SD60 STATUS as of February 2013

40 of the 43 second-hand EMD SD60 (3,800 hp) locomotives that CN acquired from GMTX last year, have now been repainted, upgraded to CN specifications, and in service.   As well, the newest group of 46 EMDX Oakways are currently gathering at Centralia, IL.  

 

Painted and in service:

CN 5400, 5401, 5402, 5403, 5404, 5405, 5406, 5407, 5408, 5409, 5411, 5412, 5413, 5415, 5416, 5417, 5419, 5420, 5421, 5422, 5423, 5424, 5426, 5427, 5428, 5429, 5430,  5431, 5432, 5433, 5434, 5435, 5436, 5437, 5438, 5439, 5440, 5441, and 5442.

At Centralia for paint

 5403, 5410* (The last one of this group in Oakway paint), 5414, 5418, 5422, 5425, and 5427.

At contract shops:

5416 in CN paint and completed for service, departed Quality Rail Feb. 26th. 

Compiled below are the 47 new EMD SD60’s in the EMDX 9000-series that CN has now purchased, and have included the previous GMTX units for a total of 90 SD60s added to the CN roster.

CN  (ex-Oakway) SD60 Roster:

     NEW        FORMER NUMBERS        SERIAL            NEW    FORMER NUMBERS        SERIAL

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

 Notes: 

 ·         Providence & Worcester leased two of the SD60’s, GMTX 9014 and 9059.  

·          ·         Six GMTX SD60’s were leased to NYSW:  GMTX 9016, 9044, 9061, 9067, 9082 and 9094.  

·          ·         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

BEFORE, AND AFTER:  On February 15th, CN SD60 5422  was in fresh paint, with two siblings (EMDX 9031, and  GMTX 9046 waiting for their turn at the paint booth in Centralia, IL.

 

 

 

On February 14th, George Redmond snapped CN 5413 painted and ready to go at the CN engine facility at Centralia, IL.

 

George Redmond clicked CN 5403 in new paint at the CN engine facility at Centralia, IL on January 5th

Kim Kafura caught CN 5400 and CN 5426 (ex-Oakway GMTX 9013 and 9069) ion their first assignment together as the lead power on train A447 heading through Neenah Yard on January 28th.  After doing work in the yard, the pair headed for green Bay, WI.

EMDX SD60 9072 was part of the last group of seven “Oakways” to leave VMV for movement to CN.   This unit and 46 others are slated to get paint and mechanical work during the next year and should fill the 5443-5489 number series.

Christopher Bodkin caught this CN NB with seven EMDX SD60 and a CP GP38-2 in tow at Saint John's, IL on February 6th. CN SD75I #5715, IC SD70 #1038, and CN C44-9W #2585 had EMDX 9072, 9004, 9022, 9028, 9015, 9049, and 9065 plus recently rebuilt CP GP38-2 #3025.

CN Locos Sold or Retired

 

March  Recap of CN units for sale (or sold) in late 2012 (or early 2013) :

 

CN Yard Slug 202

CN Yard Slug 217

CN Yard Slug 233 (in 2013)  

CN Yard Slug 219 (Unmovable)

CN Yard Slug 241 (Unmovable)

CN Yard Slug 264

CN Yard Slug 266

CN Yard Slug 269 (Unmovable)

CN Yard Slug 271

CN Yard Slug 272 (Unmovable)

CN Yard Slug 275

CN Hump Slug 501

CN Hump Slug 508 (in 2013)

CN Hump Slug 509

CN SW1200RS 1375 to Lambton Diesel Services (LDSX)

CN GMD1u 1406

CN GMD1u 1407

CN GMD1u 1415

CN GMD1u 1418

IC SW14 1477

IC SW14 1484

IC SW14 1490

IC SW14 1491

IC SW14 1496

IC SW14 1498

IC SW14 1500

IC SW14 1501 to Lambton Diesel Services (LDSX)

IC SW14 1505

IC SW14 1507

IC SW14 1509

IC SW14 1511

CN GP9RM 4023 (Unmovable)

CN GP9RM 7008 to the Florida Central Railway (FCEN)

CN GP9RM 7010 to Pennsylvania Northeastern Railroad (PN 7010)

CN GP9RM 4118 Central Manitoba Railway (CCGX - Cando Contracting

CNGP9RM  4119 Central Manitoba Railway (CCGX - Cando Contracting

CN GP9RM 7024 (in 2013)

CN GP9RM 7041

CN GP9RM 7045 (Unmovable)

CN GP9RM 7051 (in 2013)

CN GP9RM 7061 Central Manitoba Railway (CCGX - Cando Contracting

CN GP9RM 7064

CN GP9RM 7070 (Unmovable)

CN GP9RM 7076

CN GP9RM 7207

CN GP9RM 7216

CN GP9RM 7218 (Unmovable)

CN GP9RM 7225

CN GP9RM 7235

CN GP9RM 7244

CN GP9RM 7249

CN GP9RM 7259 (Unmovable)

CN GP9RM 7262

SW1200RSu 7316 to Lambton Diesel Services (LDSX)

GTW G9RB 4618

WC SW1500 1560

BCOL B39-8E 1700

BCOL B39-8E 3901-3911 (inclusive). BCOL B39-8E (1700, and 3901-3910 were all retired back in 2011, and 3911 in December 2009 and were stored in the former IC yard at Centralia, IL.  The ex-BC Rail B39-8Es were shipped out the second week of February 2013, with some destined to Mobile, AL, and others billed to Baton Rouge, LA.  They are being prepared for export, with reports suggesting they are destined to Mexico.   They were not sold to Laird Scrapper’s, a local Chicago dealer as previously reported.

CN Shop Repairs & Repaints

Shipping out of Quality Rail at Madison, IL and Du Quoin, IL on February 27th were CN 2242, 5416, and 8843.   Spotted on its way to Quality Rail with stacks capped, was CN C40-8W 2160.   

Rebuilt CN SD40u 6008 just prior to her release from the Transcona Shop  in August 2012.  The locomotive was sent to Woodcrest and is now working in Kirk Yard.

Repainted CN GP38-2W 4776 leads CN 324 over the Montreal Sub eastbound through St-Henri, QC on February 13th.

Ron Visockis snapped GTW 5931 and 5933 eastbound on a work train at Belleville, ON Feb 17th.

Henry Nye snapped WC GP40-2 3027 doing work on first assignment (Train  L587), The first of two to be repainted.  Sibling WC 3026 has been in Winnipeg since Feb, 7th 2013 and is earmarked for repaint.  

Mark Perry caught these two visitors at the Symington Shops  on a foggy February 24th:  CP GP38-2 3128 is to be transferred to CP (Winnipeg) , and DLCX SW9 143 is billed to ILS in Edson, AB (c/o Sand Sources Services).

CN News

 

CN Engineering Newsletter 2013 Q1: Click here to open Newsletter

 

CN Spotlight / Pleins feux CN - 2013/01/30 :      

 English:  http://www.canadianrailwayobservations.com/eng.pdf

 en francais:  http://www.canadianrailwayobservations.com/sfrench.pdf

Canadian National Railway has put a costly railway line in northern Quebec on hold midway through a feasibility study, due in part to delays in mining projects because of low iron ore prices. The Montreal-based railway had been working with several mining companies and the Caisse de depot pension fund on a study into a transportation link for iron ore producers at the Quebec-Labrador border.  CN announced back in August 2012 that the group was looking at a rail line and terminal handling facility, which analysts estimated could cost $5 billion.  But railway spokesman Louis-Antoine Paquin said February 5th 2013 that everything now is on pause.  He wouldn't say if the Quebec government's plan to increase mining royalties played a role in the decision.  "It's a bunch of factors," he said in an interview.  "There's a pause because we're evaluating certain timetables and also it has something to do with some projects of mining companies that they seem to have put on hold at the moment."  Paquin wouldn't say how much has been spent on the partially completed feasibility study. The Caisse declined to comment on the decision.  Quebec Natural Resources Minister Martine Ouellet, attending a hearing on spending estimates, was already talking about the project in the past tense.  "CN's project was a private project but funded by the Caisse de depot, which made it kind of a weird blend," Ouellet said.  She insisted access to the region must be fair for all and said a better business model for economic development in the area is needed.  Liberal Jean d'Amour, who was also present at the hearings, took issue with Ouellet's view and said the election of the Parti Quebecois had created a climate of uncertainty in the mining sector.  Rod Cooper, president and chief operating officer of Labrador Iron Mines (TSX:LIM), said last summer that a new terminal handling facility at the Port of Sept-Iles would complement plans for a new dock at the port.  The former Quebec government's Plan Nord envisaged CN and the Caisse developing a new, 800-kilometre line from the port of Sept-Iles to the Labrador Mining Trough, a major growing source of iron ore.  Cameron Doerksen of National Bank Financial had said the project wouldn't likely be operational until 2017-2018 but could provide large revenues for CN. He had estimated the railway could potentially generate $1.5 billion to $2 billion in annual revenues on top of its current total of nearly $10 billion.   Another industry player expected to benefit from the line is pressure treated wood supplier Stella-Jones (TSX:SJ).   On the Toronto Stock Exchange, CN's shares were up $1.58 at $97.82 when markets closed Friday.

Canadian National Railway published a notice of discontinuance of  the Windsor Junction rail line on February 7th 2013, raising questions about the future of the rail corridor between Windsor Junction (in Halifax Regional Municipality), and the town of Windsor, Nova Scotia.  The announcement regarding this line had some officials in Windsor and Wolfville scratching their heads about the implications.  “There is some uncertainty at this point about which particular properties, if any, are involved within the town,” Bill Butler, director of planning for Windsor, said in an interview.  The notice from CN said the railway wants to see proposals before April 8 for the operation of a railway between Windsor Junction and a spot at mile 31.6, where the line connects with one owned by the Windsor and Hantsport Railway Co. “Parties interested in acquiring this railway line for the purpose of continuing railway operations must make their intention known,” said a notice published by CN in The Chronicle Herald.  There has been talk in recent years of a tourism-related rail service for the Windsor and Hantsport railway, said David Hovell, executive director of the Wolfville Business Development Corp.  “The loss of a connection with Windsor Junction may have implications,” he said.  Bob Schmidt, CEO of the Windsor and Hantsport Railway, which runs through Wolfville, said the potential loss of the Windsor Junction line is a major concern for his business.  “There is not currently any traffic on the line but that could change at any time,” Schmidt said in an interview from Alexandria, WV.  He said there has not been been any traffic on his railway since 2009, amid the demise of the local gypsum industry, but there are encouraging signs that may change.   This situation is similar with that of the Windsor Junction line, he said.  “The critical thing from our perspective is that the Windsor Junction line be preserved.”   Schmidt said that while the scrap value of the steel in the Windsor Junction line would be worth about $800,000, the going cost for building railway lines these days is about a million dollars per mile. of the line.   CN spokesman Jim Feeney said the line has not been used in about three years.  “Once it’s gone, it’s gone,” Schmidt added.  

CN Photos

At Huntsville, Ontario January 28th, Wayne D. Shaw caught CN 595 heading south to Martins with its usual Monday morning consist of two boxcars for the Panolam plant. Wayne was pleased to see CN GP9RM 4136 back where she has spent so much time over the past decade.  The geep is temporarily filling in for CN 4132 which was undergoing routine maintenance.

With CN local 595 out of its way having ducked in the hole at Martins, Wayne clicked CN train 450 as she reached track speed southbound as CN SD70M-2 8964 approached Old Muskoka Road, just north of the CN Newmarket Sub at the Mile 138 marker.

On February 15th, Wayne also snapped CN 452 after negotiating the “S” curve  on the south shore of Lake Vernon at Mile 144 of the CN Newmarket Sub, just south of Huntsville. “Rudolf the red nosed reindeer” CN C44-9W  2606 looks lovely as she picks up the white powder snow on her front pilot, side frames, and fuel tank.

On January 28th, train 451 has freshly-painted CN C44-9W 2668, and a grimy CNNA painted Dash 8 40-CM approaching the south switch at Martins (Domtar Road), at Mile 141 on the Newmarket Sub.

Due to a speedometer problem with leader CN 5400 on arrival at Neenah, WI, CN SD60’s 5426 and 5400 were turned on the Wye so CN 5426 could lead.  Kim Kafura caught the pair in the yard at Neenah on January 28th.

 

Also at Neenah, WI on January 28th, CN train A447 had WC SW1500 1561 and IC SW7RM 1201 dead in tow.  These are familiar stomping grounds for the WC SW1500 1561 as she has worked this yard often in the past.

 

From the bridge off Autoroute 20 at Norman Street in Lachine, QC, Michael Berry shot a CN westbound about to arrive at Taschereau Yard led by CN C40-8W 2193 and hauling a flat car with a multilevel commuter coach released from the Bombardier plant in La Pocatière, QC. 

The following day Richard Marchi snapped the car in Taschereau Yard on Feb 3rd.  It was then transferred to St-Luc Yard, and headed south on CP 252  to for set off at Bluff Point for furtherance  to the Bombardier plant in  Plattsburgh, NY for completion.

Kim Kafura bagged “J-Ball” painted EJE SD38 667 at the yard in Neenah, WI building her train on February 6th.

EJ&E SD38-2 672 arrived leading a rail train, and stopped in the yard Carbondale, IL on February 15th.

 

Darren Doss snapped CN 1501 in Dyersburg, TN February 4th.  The CN 1501 was waiting for a signal to proceed south behind the CN 5425.

Chris Gertz snapped CN  331 with  a nice little treat on February 18th,  grey GTW SD40-3 5941. These were overhauled in Montreal at GEC-Alsthom (later  changed to “ALSTOM”), from retired CN SD40's during 1989-1991. The 50 overhauled SD40-3’s were painted grey with orange, lettered GCFX and leased to CN during the 1990’s.  They were used all across Canada and used  in lead and trailing position.  In 2012,CN bought the lease out on about 18 of them and returned them to service from long term storage in Chicago sublettered GTW. Some of the 50 were sold to KCS, and others operate on shortlines like Mobil Grain, QGRY, and others.

Earlier in the month, on February 5th another SD40-3 recalled to service GTW 5944 was shot in idle at the south end of the Du Quoin yard February 6th. It would be a helper engine for A432 later in the day.

On February 6th, George Redmond photographed CN 2428, & 2408 SB train A432 at Centralia, IL. 

Dave Burroughs snapped interesting foreign power on CN 397  as  CN 2454, BCOL 4615, led BNSF 9607 as it passed Copetown, ON February 11th.

 

On February 12th George Redmond snapped CN 2653 and 8911 on a southbound freight train, and SD70I 5606 leading A432 southbound as well at Centralia, IL.

 

 

One has to wonder how much longer this Wisconsin Central special paint scheme will last now that WC GP40-2 3026 arrived at the Transcona Shop.   Taken by Ian Campbell on  Feb 14th, 2013.      

 

CN Vignettes

In July 1955, CNR 8353 is seen switching and taking the mainline cross over at Val Royal, QC on the Deux-Montanges electrified passenger line.  Many of the Montreal assigned CNR yard engines carried class lights as this steam engine shows.  The same could be said for the diesel era.. The ERIE logo looks terrific on the 40-foot box car behind the steam locomotive.

Peter Cox submitted Canadian National Railways 4-8-2 number 6042 at an unknown place and date, wearing an “experimental” smoke lifting device around the stack.  CNR tried out various smoke deflectors around the stack, and elephant ears on the running boards of several main line engines  during the 1930’s and 1940’s.

In September 1969, Jim Parker snapped CN GP9 4512 at Mac Yard, still in her as built livery.

In May 1977, VIA CN Tempo train #81 cruises through Bayview Junction led by FP9A 6531, with a complete consist in CN passenger livery.  In those years, all VIA/CN trains operating in southwestern Ontario were called 'Tempo Trains' regardless of the actual equipment assigned.

In August 2005, WC SD40-3 6925 is seen at S. Parry, Ontario.  These were constructed at GEC-Alsthom (ALSTOM) in Montreal in the late 1980’s. Most wore “white” noodle, with only one adoring  a “ black” noodle.   

©CRO March 2013