CANADIAN NATIONAL

CN Motive Power News

CN To Acquire 65 New “AC” Units

On March 22nd, CN announced a major locomotive acquisition program to accommodate anticipated traffic growth and to improve operational efficiency, enabling the railway to better serve its customers. CN will acquire 65 new high-horsepower locomotives as well as 96 second-hand high-horsepower locomotives that are to be upgraded.    

First the new power: Canadian National has placed two orders for 30 SD70ACe’s and 35 ES44AC’s, their first ever AC locomotive order! Delivery of 35 ES44AC locomotives from GE Transportation, and 30 SD70ACe locomotives from Electro-Motive Diesel will be spread over 2013-2014. The GE units have 4,400 and the SD70ACe units 4,300 horsepower and their new CN number series, to be determined.

CN To Acquire 43 GMTX SD60’s, + 42 UP C40-8’s

CN will receive 43 GMTX SD60’s numbered between 9000 and 9099, all of which are former Oakway leasing locomotives that had been leased to BN / BNSF for many years, and often assigned to their unit coal trains.  

CN is also acquiring 42 CREX C40-8’s from Citicorp Railmark Inc.  These are ex-Union Pacific 9023-9064, originally Chicago & North Western (CNW) 8501-8542.  Citicorp Railmark Inc. had purchased them from UP two years ago, relettered them CREX, and leased them to CSX. The CN number series for these 42 units has yet to be determined.   

As well CN is buying the lease out for 11 C40-8W numbered IC 2455-2463, 2465, and 2466, (nee- LMSX 728-736, 738, and 739).

Joe Ferguson snapped this photo of one the GMTX SD60’s enroute to CN:  GMTX SD60 9064. 

Brian Ambrose took EMDX Oakway SD60 9003 at Sartell, MN back on June 16, 2001. For more information on the EMDX Oakway leased SD60’s click HERE.

At Connellsville, PA on November 10th, 2011, Curt Beal photographed leased CREX C40-8 9025 (ex-UP 9025, nee-CNW 8503), on CSX train Q352, one of 42 CN has purchased from Citicorp Railmark Inc. 

CN ex-BNSF C40-8W Roundup

Former ATSF/BNSF C40-8W’s Painted in CN Colours

*PAINTED FEBRUARY 2012

 **PAINTED MARCH 2012

SHOP

UNIT NUMBERS

TOTAL

CENTRALIA

 2098, 2099, 2135, 2136, 2138, 2139, **2140, 2142, 2143, 2145, 2146, 2149, 2150, 2151, 2153, 2155, 2156, 2157, 2159, 2160, 2161, 2163, 2166, 2169, *2172, 2173, 2178, *2179, 2180, 2181, 2183, 2184, 2185, *2186, 2187, 2188, 2192, 2196, 2197, 2198, 2199

41 UNITS

METRO EAST INDUSTRIES

 2162, 2170

2 UNITS

NRE-DIXMOOR

 2165, 2168

2 UNITS

QUALITY RAIL

 2167, **2174, 2176, 2177, **2190, 2191, 2193

 7 UNITS

WOODCREST

 2137, 2141, 2144, 2147, 2148, 2152, 2154, 2164, 2175,**2189, 2194, *2195

12 UNITS

GRAND TOTAL OF UNITS COMPLETED OUT OF 67

64

The last three CN C40-8W’s still to be repainted are 2158, 2171*, and 2182*. Two of the three remaining, CN 2171 and 2182 have been in service for several months in CN patched pumpkin and warbonnet paint, but 2171 was finally been sidelined in March for repaint.

Two of the new repaints, CN 2189 was seen at Woodcrest nearly complete on March 16th and CN 2174 (ex-BNSF 825) was seen departing Quality Rail on March 24th where both Mark Mautner, and Joe Ferguson snapped her at Du Quoin, IL.

 

CN 2140 arrived in Centralia March 6th for its turn in the paint booth.  Terry Redeker snapped CN 2140 in her still current appearance in Memphis TN back in 2010.  

George Redmond was first to catch 2140 in CN paint at the Centralia engine facility on March 28th.

Two months ago CN 2158, 2174 (ex-825) and 2190 (ex-855) were moved to Quality Rail in Madison, IL  for CN repaint and completion. George Redmond caught CN 2174  (ex-BNSF 825 Warbonnet) and CN 2158 in transit at Irvington, IL back in January.         

 

Just released from Quality Rail in fresh paint and visible radiator modification, CN 2190 was on CN Northbound M335 (trailing  5692 and 5732) at Centralia, IL on March 14th.

On March 16th George Redmond photographed CN 2171 dead in tow on a SB train M336 at Du Quoin, IL destined to MEI for repaint. CN 2171  had been one of two in BNSF paint in service on CN.  New Quality Rail repaint CN 2177 was also on train M336, running of course.

One that was released from the Woodcrest paint shop in February that missed our CRO March issue roundup was CN 2195.  Chris Bodkin shot 2195 at Carbondale, IL on February 10th.

George Redmond shot CN 2172 at the CN engine facility Centralia, Il. March 2nd, painted and awaiting completion.

 

 

On March 11th  George snapped CN 2186 by the old ICRR coal tower at Centralia, IL awaiting completion.

 

 

 

 

Trace Locations of CN 2098-2199

(CN ex-UP C40-8, ex-BNSF C40-8W)

CRO “Special Report” (via Joe Ferguson)

EQUIPMENT EVENT AEI IND EVENT L/E EVENT TRAIN DESTINATION REPORTING RR SCAC RESTRICTED CAR
INIT NUMBER CITY ST TIME QUAL MON DAY TIME ZONE TIME CODE CITY ST
CN 2098 OLMITO   TX   03 23   0206 U A       UP  
CN 2099 MARSHFIEL   WI   03 23   1504 U A       CN  
CN 2100 COHO   BC   03 23   1240 U P       CN  
CN 2101 JACKSON   MS   03 23   1402 U P       CN  
CN 2102 RAILPORT   IL   03 15   1807 U A       CN  
CN 2103 RIVERS   MB   03 23   1145 U P       CN  
CN 2104 WINNIPEG   MB   03 23   1508 U A       CN  
CN 2105 OBA   ON   03 23   1521 U A       CN  
CN 2106 MADISON   IL   02 20   1800 E A       TRRA  
CN 2107 PROCTOR   MN   03 22   1916 U A       CN  
CN 2108 BLUERIVER   BC   03 23   1229 U P       CN  
CN 2109 WINNIPEG   MB   03 23   0656 U A       CN  
CN 2110 EAST SAIN   IL   02 04   1820 U J       UP  
CN 2111 FAIRLANE   MN   03 23   1416 U P       CN  
CN 2112 THUNDERBI   MN   03 23   1527 U P       CN  
CN 2113 MATTOON   IL   03 23   1150 U A       CN  
CN 2114 STANLEY   OH   03 23   1158 U A       CN  
CN 2115 JASPER   AB   03 23   1200 U P       CN  
CN 2116 WINNIPEG   MB   11 10   1434 U A       CN  
CN 2117 WAINWRIGH   AB   03 23   1302 U P       CN  
CN 2118 DIAMOND   MB   03 23   1120 U A       CN  
CN 2119 FAIRLANE   MN   03 23   1416 U P       CN  
CN 2120 MARKHAM   IL   02 29   2149 U A       CN  
CN 2121 TARA   IA   03 23   0815 U A       CN  
CN 2122 LIVERPOOL   ON   03 23   1446 U P       CN  
CN 2123 MEMPHIS   TN   03 22   2120 U A       CN  
CN 2124 BLUERIVER   BC   03 23   1229 U P       CN  
CN 2125 RAILPORT   IL   11 11   1710 U A       CN  
CN 2126 CLOVERBAR   AB   03 23   1341 U P       CN  
CN 2127 MOUIRON   MN   03 23   1259 U A       CN  
CN 2128 MELVILLE   SK   03 23   1327 U P       CN  
CN 2129 RAILPORT   IL   03 23   1439 U A       CN  
CN 2130 BUFFALO   NY   03 23   0111 U A       CN  
CN 2131 THUNDERBI   MN   03 23   1527 U P       CN  
CN 2132 MOBILE   AL   03 21   1134 U A       CN  
CN 2133 FORSTJOHN   BC   03 23   0916 U P       CN  
CN 2134 SIOLOOKOU   ON   03 23   1209 U P       CN  
CN 2135 SQUAMISH   BC   03 23   1120 U A       CN  
CN 2136 MARKHAM   IL   03 23   1042 U A       CN  
CN 2137 GEISMAR   LA   03 22   2331 U A       CN  
CN 2138 LANSING   MI   03 23   1534 U A       CN  
CN 2139 CHAMPAIGN   IL   03 23   0940 U A       CN  
CN 2140 DECATUR   IL   03 04   1342 U A       CN  
CN 2141 OWEN   WI   03 23   1454 U A       CN  
CN 2142 MATTESON   IL   03 23   1309 U P       CN  
CN 2143 THEPAS   MB   03 23   0912 U A       CN  
CN 2144 NO TRACE INFORMATION AVAILABLE
CN 2145 CENTRALIA   IL   03 23   1217 U A       CN  
CN 2146 BLUERIVER   BC   03 23   1247 U P       CN  
CN 2147 WINNIPEG   MB   03 22   2201 U A       CN  
CN 2148 LONGLAC   ON   03 23   1414 U P       CN  
CN 2149 LADYSMITH   WI   03 23   1253 U P       CN  
CN 2150 NO TRACE INFORMATION AVAILABLE
CN 2151 HAWJUNCTI   ON   03 23   1345 U P       CN  
CN 2152 KIRKYARD   IN   03 23   1450 U P       CN  
CN 2153 COHO   BC   03 23   1047 U P       CN  
CN 2154 WATERLOO   IA   03 21   0856 U A       CN  
CN 2155 TORYAR   ON   03 23   1512 U A       CN  
CN 2156 PORTHURON   MI   03 23   1536 U P       CN  
CN 2157 COLLINS   MS   03 21   1825 U A       CN  
CN 2158 MADISON   IL   01 05   1210 E A       TRRA  
CN 2159 NORDEXTER   MO   03 23   1228 U P       UP  
CN 2160 STANLEY   OH   03 23   1158 U A       CN  
CN 2161 WINNIPEG   MB   03 15   1808 U A       CN  
CN 2162 CAMROSE   AB   03 23   0345 U A       CN  
CN 2163 RANIER   MN   03 23   0514 U A       CN  
CN 2164 SMITHERS   BC   03 21   0058 U A       CN  
CN 2165 ESCANABA   MI   02 29   1805 U A       CN  
CN 2166 WINNIPEG   MB   12 14   1337 U A       CN  
CN 2167 MARKHAM   IL   03 21   0412 U A       CN  
CN 2168 LONGLAC   ON   03 23   1312 U P       CN  
CN 2169 PRIGEORGE   BC   03 23   1129 U A       CN  
CN 2170 CHETWYND   BC   03 23   1245 U P       CN  
CN 2171 MEMPHIS   TN   03 23   0639 U A       CN  
CN 2172 NO TRACE INFORMATION AVAILABLE
CN 2173 BROOKHAVE   MS   03 23   1450 U P       CN  
CN 2174 NO TRACE INFORMATION AVAILABLE
CN 2175 GLENN   IL   03 13   0152 U A       CN  
CN 2176 WINNIPEG   MB   03 23   1314 U P       CN  
CN 2177 WAINWRIGH   AB   03 23   1207 U P       CN  
CN 2178 NORVANCOU   BC   03 22   1719 U A       CN  
CN 2179 NAMPA   ID   03 23   1213 U P       UP  
CN 2180 JOLYD   IL   03 23   1312 U A       CN  
CN 2181 PROCTOR   MN   03 23   0830 U A       CN  
CN 2182 BRANCH JU   IL   03 21   1350 U P       CN  
CN 2183 NO TRACE INFORMATION AVAILABLE
CN 2184 MONTREAL   PQ   03 23   1519 U A       CN  
CN 2185 NO TRACE INFORMATION AVAILABLE
CN 2186 TORYAR   ON   03 21   1419 U A       CN  
CN 2187 BENSENVIL   IL   03 23   1144 L P       CPRS  
CN 2188 FORSTJOHN   BC   03 23   0731 U P       CN  
CN 2189 NO TRACE INFORMATION AVAILABLE
CN 2190 WINNIPEG   MB   03 17   0337 U A       CN  
CN 2191 ENDAKO   BC   03 23   1002 U P       CN  
CN 2192 KEENAN   MN   03 23   1444 U A       CN  
CN 2193 EDGEWOOD   IL   03 23   1345 U P       CN  
CN 2194 JACKSON   MS   03 23   1402 U P       CN  
CN 2195 DESTREHAN   LA   03 23   1444 U A       CN  
CN 2196 MONTREAL   PQ   03 23   0844 U A       CN  
CN 2197 DUQUOIN   IL   03 23   1348 U P       CN  
CN 2198 WINNIPEG   MB   03 14   0912 U A       CN  
CN 2199 EDSON   AB   03 23   1202 U P       CN  

CN Units Activated

Twelve former GTW ex-KCS /Alstom SD40-3's, GCFX 5938, 5941, 5945, 5947, 5948, 5949, 5950, 5951, 5952, 5953, 5954, and 5955 have been shipped to Metro East Industries (MEI) for return to CN service. Mark Mautner shot them March 6th at MEI in East St Louis, IL  The  HELM owned unit in UP paint is HLCX GP38-3 2525, that will soon be heading to Omnitrax on lease.

On March 12 George Redmond photographed activated CN SD40-2W 5273 and GTW SD40-3 5943 (still inactive) in the CN yards Du Quoin, IL. 

CN Locomotive Modifications

Following repaint and radiator modification at Quality Rail, Mark Mautner clicked CN C40-8W 2190 at the TRRA-Madison Yard in Venice, IL on March 13th.  Mark obtained a release for permission to take this photo on TRRA property.

CN Repaints

CN F40PH 106 was seen in the consist of L503 (BRC Clearing to EJ&E Kirk Yard) on March 19th and arrived in the Belt Railway of Chicago yard on CN train 347 the night before.  Still in D&RGW Ski Train yellow and black paint, it is likely going for Agawa Canyon Train repaint. Joe Ferguson snapped CN 106 at Centralia,, IL March 26th.

Joe Ferguson shot CN SD40-2W 5264 in fresh paint at the CN engine facility Centralia, Il on March 6th.

On March 11th George Redmond clicked CN GP40-2LW 9567 in new paint at the CN engine facility in Centralia, IL.

Following wreck repairs and repaint Mike Garza caught CN GP38-2 7502 was seen  at Woodcrest shop February 28th.

Freshly painted GP38-2 7502 was seen in transit by Chris Gertz photos on CN 148 passing through Paris, ON  March 1st. 

On March 24th George Redmond clicked CN GP40-2LW 9411 at the CN engine facility Centralia, IL.

CN Units Sold

WC SD40-3 6914, ex- GCFX  6044, (nee-CN SD40 5143) has been sold to AG Processing Inc. in Progress, TX.  (No connection with Progress Rail).

CN Units Retired

During the first months of 2012, CN retired the following units:

IC C40-8W 2464 (Wrecked on the CSX in late 2011)
CN C44-9W 2683 (Wrecked in 2012)
CN SD75I 5637 (Wrecked on the Grand Cache Sub Jan 2012).

CN Photos

In Allensville, ON March 4th, Wayne D. Shaw photographed CN ES44DC 2312 (off CN 450 North Bay to Toronto) at Mile 138, on the CN Newmarket  Sub.

Wayne also snapped the crews of 595 (GP9RM 4132) and a snow removal team join forces to free a frozen switch at the south end of Martins Siding, in Huntsville, ON March 5th.

Joe Ferguson caught a surprise at Du Quoin, IL February 29th when he noted northbound M335 with two SD75's and a slug CN 252.  While common to see in Canada, in the U.S they are not.  Memphis, TN has assigned GP9RM slug sets, and there are slugs in Chicago, so seeing a slug being moved on a mainline freight on the IC is rare. 

The current yard engine at Centralia, IL, CN GP40-2LW 9437 was photographed by George Redmond on March 11th at the CN engine facility.

On February 18th Matt Petersen snapped resurrected WC GP40R 3018 in yard service at Stevens Point, WI.   The “Frankengeep” had been stored at Woodcrest and is paired with CN GP9RM 4100 for switching at Stevens Point WI.  There may be several more to  come out of their cocoons and get back to work. WC GP40R 3004 and 3018 were the last two working regularly. WC GP40R 3023 is the only one to get a CN repaint at the Centralia Shop.

The only CN patched ex-ATSF Warbonnet currently in service was caught by Glen Mounk March 4th as CN 438 switched the yard at Fort Frances, ON with CN SD70M-2 8900 and CN C40-8W 2182.  After CN 438 departed to the U.S. border, two CN SD60F’s arrived with their train terminating at Fort Frances. The pair then coupled up to two others already in the yard, creating an impressive quartet of CN cowls: SD60F 5520, 5549, 5543 and 5525. 

On March 3rd, Kim Kafura caught the Devil numbered engine; EJ&E SD38-3 666 was doing a shove move south at the CN yard in Neenah, WI backing her train far enough to reset the north bound signals.  Once done, they get track permission to head north to the foundry in Waupaca, WI.  Kim was informed that earlier in the day, two of her sisters, EJ&E SD38-3’s 656 and 659 had moved south to the Fond du Lac Shop.   

Joe Ferguson shot this interesting EJ&E M-O-W caboose (EJE 195)  in Fulton, KY. in early March.

George Redmond clicked CN Dash 8-40CM 2429 in the CN yards at Du Quoin, IL on March 16th, with what appears to be fire damage on the long hood.

Ken Lanovich snapped the following  eight locomotive photos at Woodcrest Shop and CN/IC Markham, Yard during January and February.  The GMTX SW1200 501 ex-EJ&E 302, is to be leased to AMTRAK in Chicago.    (From top to bottom):

WC SW1500 1558 southside of shop, Feb 23, 2012

CN SD40-2W 5244 returned to service, Jan 31, 2012

CN SD40-2 5378 (ex-UP) returned to service, Feb 12, 2012

GTW SD40-2 5936 returned to service, Feb 12, 2012

GMTX SW1200 501 ex-EJ&E 302, Feb 12, 2012

CN SW1200RS 1375 in storage, Feb 18, 2012

B&LE SD38-2 878 southside of shop, Feb 23, 2012

IC SW14 1491 in storage, Feb 18, 2012

Kim Kafura clicked NREX SW1500 2531 on train X347 at  Neenah, WI on March 13th with CN 2328, IC 2726, and NREX 2531 rolling along through the Dixie siding. The locomotive is destined to Badger Mining.

Jeff Kutcher Clicked shots of wrecked CN SD70M-2 8835 which was involved in the collision with runaway coal cars on the Grande Cache Sub in Alberta two months ago.  These photos were taken on March 13th in Walker Yard, in Edmonton, AB.

Brian Thompson snapped BCOL C44-9W4645 and IC SD70 1021 powering CN 331 at milepost 27.1 Dundas Subdivision (between Brantford and Paris, ON at 13:00 on March 7th.

On March 7th, Guy-Pascal Arcouette bagged the CN Pointe-St-Charles “switcher” (GP9RM 7032 and 7233) on the Lachine canal South Bank Branch, about to pass over the Charlevoix Street crossing and get back onto the busy Montreal Sub at St-Henri, QC.

Back on October 10th, 2010 Brandon Kilgore caught the first EJ&E SD38-2 to be repainted into CN livery, resting at Joliet, IL on a beautiful morning.  EJE 668 is looking sharp in fresh CN paint, but Brandon points out the Woodcrest paint booth missed a few spots of EJ&E orange on the horn.  Even in CN paint with no nose light, there is no mistaking this as an American-built EMD.

On March 7th, James Gardiner snapped uniquely lettered CN GP9RM 4138 negotiating  train 580 through street traffic in downtown Brantford, ON.  In 1997, CN leased this geep for the filming of the movie “The Wrong Guy" with “AR Illinois” applied to her nose.  The loco and train scene can be seen (at 4:00 mins) in this short film clip.  James photo shows she has retained her movie lettering all this time.

 

On March 14th Ken Goslett snapped CN 377 at Cedars West (Les Cedres, QC), with CN SD70M-2 8088 on the point.

On March 22nd, Dan Tweedle clicked train 393 with IC SD70 1002 leading CN SD70M-2 8937 at MP 36 on the Oakville Sub, at Burlington, ON.

CN Vignette

James A. Brown photographed this perfect vignette on Montreal's West Island way back on July 9th, 1962. A pair of  CNR Fairbanks-Morse/CLC-built H16-44’s leading “Extra 2212” eastbound to Montreal passing the CNR station at Pointe Claire QC,  

 © CRO April 2012