CANADIAN LOCOMOTIVE SHOPS
In spite of the official closure earlier this year, the EMD London facility was still at it with a much reduced work force. The London plant has finished most of the 13 UP SD70ACE (order 20116557 for 8764-8776). Production is being completed on EMDX SD70ACe 2110-2113 in order 20116604A - one of which, EMDX 2111 was photographed on the London test track on May 30th, 2012.
Larry Broadbent also photographed a still to be numbered SD70ACe in full KCS livery, testing with UP SD70Ace 8771 May 17th, 2012. This is one of ten to be numbered 2100-2109 in order 20116608B.
On June 21st, six units were visible, EMDX SD70ACe 2110, 2111, 2113, UP 8774 and a pair of unpainted units. UP SD70ACe 8776 was in Port Huron. 13 Union Pacific SD70ACe have now been completed at London - UP 8764-8776, the last one completed was UP 8774. One of these, UP SD70ACe is 8766 seen on the test track back on April 18th.
The other UP deliveries were from Bombardier Mexico: UP 8752-8763, 8773-8783. (8752-8763, 8777-8783 from Bombardier Mexico. Caterpillar, the U.S. heavy equipment giant that shut down its EMD London locomotive plant, has offered contract work in Muncie, Indiana and Brazil, to some of the same men and women it locked out this past winter after trying to cut their wages and benefits in half, say Canadian Auto Workers union officials. In the end, the company shut down the plant and its decades of history in London. "When you have the skill set I do, it is very specific to this industry. I have a trade and I have to apply that trade," said one former EMD worker, who didn't want to be identified, now on contract with Caterpillar in Muncie. He's training workers on site and said there are about six other former EMD employees doing similar work. They're making more than $330 a day. "I will work where I can," he said. Facebook groups dedicated to the EMD workforce say that number working for Caterpillar may be closer to 90, with 60 in Muncie and 30 in Brazil. In total about 70 of the 481 former EMD workers have found work, some in Windsor and others in Western Canada, as well as in London. The former London worker in Muncie defended his move, saying he has a London family to support and good-paying work is tough to come by. "I would not come down here and train them while we were working in London, but that battle is over, the plant closed and I have experience and skill I can use." Another U.S. company, Adecco, is looking for workers for EMD rival General Electric's locomotive division. "We have jobs available and we are always looking," said Stephen Buckle, branch manager for Adecco Engineering in Erie, Pennsylvania. "We do a lot with locomotives and controls and we find (London workers) have transferable skills." Buckle has been scouring job sites searching Electro-Motive and Caterpillar, in hope of getting London workers for GE's Erie assembly plant, he said. Adecco has about 100 jobs available between Erie and another plant in Pittsburgh. Buckle is also looking for skilled workers for other industrial employers and now has 20 Ontario workers in the U.S. The contracts are for about one year and wages range up to $50 an hour, he added. EMD McCook shipments June-July 2012: (By Sean Graham-White) EMD McCook (outside Chicago, IL), is in a continual state of business with various test programs to improve existing programs and to develop various items for future ones. As busy as that can be, most of the arrivals and departures from the plant are few and far between. However, the last several weeks in June and July have been an exception. Metra (METX) F40PH-3 115 and 145; and UP SD70ACe 8394 that had been there for EPA Tier 4 development departed in July. The 8394 left having had its engine hood returned to standard configuration, after being fitted at the plant with a Tier 4 package over the engine compartment. July has seen two departures so far -- UP 9900, an SD59MX that has a Tier 4 'hump' over the engine compartment, and EMDX 4223, a technology demonstrator. At the EMD plant in early July were: EMDX 91, 92, 7101, and 9501. UP 8349 remains to continue Tier- 4 development. EMDX 92 is currently without a prime mover.
Back in the day our beloved (GMDD) General Motors Diesel Division plant in London produced some exception Diesel Electric locomotives. These builders photos are some of Stan Svihla’s collection from the GMDD London test track during the 1960’s-1970’s. Some of the captions are “misabled” with our corrections above the photo. (Our thanks to Jim Parker for sharing these with us and we will have many more coming next month as well).
CN GP40-2LW 9515 & 9452 (in 1974)
CN SD40-2W 5275 (in 1976)
National de Mexico (NdeM) SD40-2 8584
GO Transit GP40-2W 709 (in 1979)
GO Transit GP40TC 600 (in 1966)
CN GP35 4000 (in 1964)
CN SD60F 5542 (in 1973)
CP SD40-2 5674
QNSL SD40 218 (in 1971)
CN GP40-2LW 9552 (in 1975)
CP SD40-2 5588 (in 1972)
CP SD40-2 5636
CP GP38AC 3000 (in 1970)
CP SD40-2 5714
More GMD Builders Photos coming next month!
CAD Railway Services (Lachine, QC) are continuing their contract to overhaul 17 SOO SD60’s and one SD60M to Tier 0+ compliance, equip them with AESS (Locomotive Automatic Engine Start/Stop) to conserve fuel, and repaint and renumber to CP 6200-series. In Service: CP SD60 6252 (ex-SOO 6052) released July 25th, 2012 CP SD60 6255 (ex-SOO 6055) released June 21st, 2012 CP SD60 6229 (ex-SOO 6029) released June 5th, 2012 CP SD60 6243 (ex-SOO 6043) released April 20th 2012 CP SD60 6254 (ex-SOO 6054) released March 29th 2012 CP SD60 6245 (ex-SOO 6045) released March 6th 2012 CP SD60 6242 (ex-SOO 6042) released March 1st 2012 CP SD60M 6260 (ex-SOO 6060) released January 13th 2012 CP SD60 6228 (ex-SOO 6028) released December 16th 2011 CP SD60 6225 (ex-SOO 6025) released December 1st 2011 CP SD60 6241 (ex-SOO 6041) released November 2011 CP SD60 6240 (ex-SOO 6040) released October 2011 CP SD60 6250 (ex-SOO 6050) released October 2011 At Cadrail: SOO SD60 6036 arrived at Cadrail July 9th SOO SD60 6057 arrived at Cadrail April 2nd SOO SD60 6023 arrived at Cadrail March 30th SOO SD60 6034 arrived at Cadrail March 19th At St-Luc Yard: SOO SD60 6021 arrived in Montreal June 25th
The following locomotives were noted at CADRAIL July 9th: CP SD60 6243 (for modification and repair) CP SD60 6252 (in fresh paint) CP SD9043MAC 9157 (engine change-out, on temporary trucks) CEFX GP38-3 3804 (repairs) These are the remaining VIA Rail F40PH-2’s at CAD Railway Services for rebuild, listed in their expected order of release: VIA 6445 (Coors Lite), 6435, 6408 (Coors Lite), 6451, 6427, 6440, 6415 and 6453. Rebuilt VIA F40PH-2d VIA 6414 (the former Loto Quebec unit), was released in late June. Correction to last months report: The CEFX SD9043MAC’s leased to Cartier did not get renumbered at CADRAIL. Lorence Toutant caught them departing Montreal July 2nd with their CEFX numbers. They are destined for the port at Ogdensburg, NY for transfer be shop to Port Cartier, QC.
Bankrupt since March 2012, the following VIA LRC cars and RDC units remain incomplete in Moncton:
It is likely the proposed Vancouver Island VIA passenger service may get one VIA RDC1 and a VIA RDC2 at some point.
Not Available
Following very quick repairs, CSX AC4400CW 336 departed Capreol and arrived in Mac Yard July 3rd enroute back to CSX. Another Roberval Saguenay GP38-3 (RS #60) is headed to NRE-Capreol, and arrived in Toronto July 15th on Train #351. James Lalande forwarded us Norm Deschaines photos of R&S GP38-3 #60 rolling through Oshawa, ON enroute to NRE-Capreol for repairs and likely repaint.
US Steel Canada Lake Erie Works #455, (ex-STELCO SW900 #87), was released from NRE Capreol and was moving as NREX 412 in July.
In July LDSX was working on a couple of CN Distributed Braking cars in the CN 15201-15210 series. These are ex-CP exx-BN, nee-GN 50-box cars. (James Lalande with thanks). Following engine change out at LDSX in Sarnia in June, Essex Terminal (ETR) SW1500 107 was back in service in Windsor Ontario in July.
© CRO August 2012 |
