CANADIAN LOCOMOTIVE SHOPS

In March, VALE SD80ACe’s 104 and 105 had been released in full paint from IRSI, while 101, 102, 103, 106 and 107 were painted at CRCR in Mimico, ON.  All seven VALE SD80ACe’s (101-107) have been sent to Halifax, NS, and in early April departed for Brazil by ship.

As reported last month, a deal was made with the Canadian Auto Workers union and former Electro Motive Diesel workers to assemble and complete the remaining locomotives at their former London, Ontario facility before permanently closing it in September. This includes part of the 2012 order for 73 Union Pacific SD70ACe’s, 60 of which are being assembled at Bombardier Transportation’s Sahagun, Mexico facility. The remaining 13 units numbered 8771 to 8783 will be built and delivered from London. The other two orders are for the EMD/Progress lease fleet and are orders for SD70ACe’s. The first order is numbered 2100 to 2109 while the second is 2110 to 2114. The latter order will include cab signals, making them compatible with CSX’s current specifications for new motive power. Other work such as traction motor assembly is also being done in London.

Earlier this year, Progress Rail Services Corporation, a subsidiary of U.S. equipment manufacturer Caterpillar, announced the closure of the EMD plant in London, ON, with EMD locomotive production moved to Caterpillar’s Muncie, Indiana plant.

CAD Railway Services (Lachine, QC) are continuing their contract to overhaul 15 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 6243 (ex-SOO 6043) released on April 20^th 2012

CP SD60 6254 (ex-SOO 6054) released on March 29^th 2012

CP SD60 6245 (ex-SOO 6045) released on March 6^th 2012

CP SD60 6242 (ex-SOO 6042) released on March 1^st 2012

CP SD60M 6260 (ex-SOO 6060) released January 13^th 2012

CP SD60 6228 (ex-SOO 6028) released December 16^th 2011

CP SD60 6225 (ex-SOO 6025) released December 1^st 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 6057 arrived at Cadrail April 2^nd

SOO SD60 6023 arrived at Cadrail March 30^th

SOO SD60 6052 arrived at Cadrail March 19^th

SOO SD60 6034 arrived at Cadrail March 19^th

SOO SD60 6055  arrived at Cadrail on March 9^th

SOO SD60 6029 arrived on January 9^th.

On April 1^st, there were two new arrivals on the CP interchange track at CAD: CP AC4400CW 8561 with extensive fire damage, and  SOO SD60 6023.  CP 8561 had been stored unserviceable at St-Luc Diesel shop since 2010.

Michael Berry snapped this line up at CAD on April 7th: SOO SD60 6023, CITX SD40-2 2804 and CAD shop switcher (ex-CP) RS18u 1825.  Barely visible behind SOO 6023 is CP SD9043MAC 9142. Barely visible behind SOO 6023 is CP SD9043MAC 9142.  

On April 13^th, CAD received CN ES44DC 2340.

The VIA Rail F40PH-2’s at CAD Railway Services for rebuild and listed in their expected order of release:

VIA 6420, 6424, 6414 (Loto Quebec), 6445 (Coors Lite), 6408 (Coors Lite), 6415, 6435 and 6451.   

Rebuilt VIA F40PH-3 F40PH-3 6421 was released in April.

Currently, there are only three VIA F40PH-2’s left “in service” wearing the old paint scheme.  The numbers are 6427, 6440, and 6453.   

CP SD9043MAC 9142 is at CADRAIL for traction motor application along with  VIA Sleeper “Grant Manor”, ex-GO F59PH RBRX 18537 ex-UP CITX  SD40-2  2804 (arrived at CAD on March 13^th).   CP SD9043MAC 9157 is still stored at St-Luc awaiting an engine change out at Cadrail.  

In March the two VALE SD80ACe’s 104 and 105 were released in full paint from Industrial Rail Services in Moncton, NB, and in early April were destined to Brazil by ship.

In April VIA Rail canceled the IRSI contract because of failure to meet the agreed deadlines on several projects.  One of the factors in the decision was the major factor structural problems found under some LRC cars (corroded or  rusting steel) that would delay release dates.   In March work at IRSI was placed on hold as VIA considered revising the contract to refurbish the cars, and have decided to cancel the IRSI contracts.

IRSI is now facing major problems with VIA terminating the remainder of the $109-million contract. The New Brunswick government is seeking a court-appointed receiver for Industrial Rail Services, saying the company has failed to repay it loans, according to court documents.  The affidavit prepared by an employee with the Department of Economic Development, describes the "deteriorating” relationship between VIA Rail and Industrial Rail.  The provincial government said in the court documents it wants to go ahead with receivership "for the benefit of all interested parties." IRSI fell behind on the $109-million project to refurbish 98 train cars, saying it was trying to work around problems that engineers found in the cars' framing.  According to the affidavit VIA  terminated the uncompleted portion of the contract April 11^th.  The provincial government has said it backed the company with $22.5 million in loans and guarantees.  The province filed an affidavit with the Court of Queen's Bench on April 16^th.  The parties will appear in court in Fredericton on April 19^th .  IRSI laid off 85 people in March.

In March VIA RDC4’s 6250 and 6251 are still in Moncton, NB, to repair an overheating  problem.

On April 15th Mike Robin caught GE 44 tonner DESX 206 in the process of being shipped back to her home shop in Sudbury after a stint as acting switcher at the Tembec Paper Mill in Kapuskasing. The unit is spotted in Cochrane moments before her departure south to Englehart hauled by ONR GP9 1603.

Don McQueen snapped ETR SW1500 107 in transit April 4^th at CN Highbury in London, ON.  ETR 107 was forwarded to Sarnia's Lambton Diesel Services for engine repairs.

© CRO May 2012