The video shows CN 2804 and 2803 heading westbound from Toronto (at Boyne, Mile 146 on the Bala Sub.) on November 23^rd

With the last hold out for DC (Canadian National) now ordering AC locomotives, domestically it appears it may be the end for  Class One railroads ordering new DC road freight power.  There are speed advantages on production lines and economies of scale in terms of purchasing costs when you are building all AC domestics. When EMD delivers their SD70ACe-P4 to BNSF next year, and assuming that they deliver the kind of performance that GE's C4 does, that will likely be the final blow. Remember that the $ savings to purchase a C4/P4 have to match performance expectations. Performance and $ metrics are able to be obtained and calculated in as many permutations as the customer needs very easily these days. But, there will still be foreign customers that will want DC traction motors from GE and EMD, and MPI, Brookville, NRE will be happy to deliver DC-motored four-axle power. ( Sean-Graham White)

LNG Locomotive Testing:

During November, Canadian National’s pair of Liquefied Natural Gas test units (CN SD40-2W 5258 and 5261 with the LNG tank car between them  continued  operation in captive service between Walker Yard in Edmonton and Lynton, 1.1 miles south of Fort McMurray, AB.  CN did this conversion of these older SD40-2W locomotives as a test, because natural gas prices are lower and even more stringent emissions rules will come in 2015.  CN is using a leased Union Pacific-owned LNG tank car (CNW-1 is in Umler) to provide fuel to the two locomotives for the initial testing. UP attempted a LNG program in the early 1990s, but no locomotives were ever placed into service with the LNG tank cars that UP purchased for the testing.

 The last WC GP40-2R (WC 3026) remains in service around Edmonton, AB  where Jesse Acorn shot her last month, wearing the map of Wisconsin on the long hood.

All of the remaining WC GP40’s on the CN roster were retired June 15th, 2012 and stored, with many returned to the lessor .  

Ron Visockis snapped CN GP38-2 4711 with a Ballast train Belleville, ON on Oct 17th, with an ICG caboose on the tailend.

Just over a week later, Ron bagged GTW SD40-2 5937 with a another ballast train at Belleville, ON Oct 29th.

The same ballast train continued to provide interesting power over the next days.  Witness good looking GTW SD40-2 5936 and the ICG Caboose assigned to the work train November 8th at Belleville, ON.

CN operated a special train on the St-Hyacinthe sub over several days the first week of November and parked it in Southwark yard each evening;   Michel Lusier snapped these images of  CN GP9RM 7224 and AMT coach 1207 (Train#7224) was a CN student train (for training purposes). Following behind  was CN tank train 785 with CN 2593+2561, on November 1st.

Darren Doss snapped GTW SD40-2 5932 and patched  CN SD60 5403 at Fulton, KY November 4th.

CN 5746 is seen with train M396 at North Siding, Fulton, KY.  CN M396 is patiently waiting for the arrival of train CN M342 led by CN 2586.   CN M342 will then be re-crewed at Fulton, KY, with set-out, pick-up and will then continue south to Memphis, TN.  CN M396 with a fresh crew on board and will continue northward to Champaign, IL and points north.

On November 18^th, George Redmond bagged IC SD40-3 6201 in OLS  livery at the CN engine facility at Centralia, IL.  There are only a two or three (black painted) IC SD40-3’s left in service.

Ron Visockis shot this November 6th facing the East end of the yard tracks in Belleville.   CN is considering to have Elmwood road  become a new Crew Change Point with the station name ELMWOOD.  The new Track # 1  is already in use, and Ron noted a lot of activity around such as re-ballasting, repaving of access roads,  and new signal installations.

Ron also submitted this shot of the east end of the Belleville VIA station showing the construction of the new VIA track # 1 into the new station.

CN SD70M-2 8910  on a westbound at Dorval, QC November 10th, now wears a label for earth day in both French and English and sporting  fresh paint.  (Michael Berry photos)

At the yard in Oakville November 11th, ON Wayne D. Shaw snapped CN 4116 doing some work with 4791 sitting a bit further back in the yard. Part of the Ford Oakville Assembly Plant complex looms over a mile away in the background, appearing much closer due to telephoto "compression".

Jesse Acorn was at Walker Yard (Edmonton, AB) November 24^th, and clicked CN SD38-2 1653 on its way from Walker to Bissell, AB  for crew training purposes.