CANADIAN LOCOMOTIVE SHOPS

JANUARY  2012

Electro Motive Diesel Inc.

EMDI Summary of Deliveries

Edited by Don McQueen

During the month of October and November, an undetermined number of new NS SD70ACe’s  in the 1030 and 1040-series were shipped from London.   It has been reported order 20116512 which was initially for 25 units (NS 1025-1049) has been increased to 40 (NS 1050-1065). NS 1027 through 1034 were sighted early in the month and 1050 through 1058 in December.

 In late November and December, locomotives in the NS SD70ACe’s in the 1050 – 1058 number series were seen including brand new NS SD70ACe 1050,1054 and 1058 on the EMD test track in London December 8^th

Sighted at the plant in blue and silver last month were the first group of the 23 SD70ACes (EMDX 2110-2114) for the Progress Rail lease fleet in order 20116528, including three painted (but still not numbered) in KCS red, yellow & black Retro-Belle scheme. 

Over the last two months, Geoff Williams captured the following new SD70ACe’s at London, ON.

NS 1049 (11/25), NS 1050 (12/12), NS 1054 (12/08), NS 1056 (12/07) and KCS xxxx (11/16).

William Beecher Jr, clicked Ferromex SD7oACe 4066 at the Belt Railway of Chicago (BRC) Diesel Shop Clearing Yard, in late December, in transit to Mexico.  

Arriving at Vaughan, ON December 20^th Chris Wilson bagged the first two London-built SD80ACe’s (5000 H.P.) from order C-322.  Destined for Vale in Brazil, the pair (101 and 103), moved in primer coat and are without trucks aboard KRL 8-axle flats (70933 and 70946) for completion to Canadian Rail Collision & Refurbish Inc (CRCR) Mimico.

On December 22^nd Progress/Caterpillar moved three more Vale SD80ACe’s from the plant, this time not on flat cars, but on temporary trucks to Stratford, ON for storage.   Included in this move were primer coated Vale C-322-4 (104 - anti-climber chalked C322-4; but nose marked 5E); C322-5 (105 - anti-climber chalked C322-5; but nose marked 4E) on their own trucks, and C322-7E (107) on KRL flat 70989.

SD80ACe spotting features:

-         The engine room has 10 doors (8 on SD70ACe) - one per cylinder per side of the engine (total of 2o cylinders/engine room doors).

-         The radiator wings are larger as well - there are 9 doors under the radiators on the SD80ACe, 8 on an SD70ACe and hree radiator fans instead of two on the SD70ACe.

-         Also 12 handrail stanchions instead of 11 as on SD70ACe.

Eric Portelli caught the pair December 24^th at CRCR in Mimico, where  CRCR have two shop tracks at the VIA Toronto Maintenance Centre. 

In October 2010, Caterpillar Inc. announced it was investing US$50 million to acquire and to renovate an existing 740,000-square-foot (69,000 m2) building for assembly of EMD branded locomotives and to build a locomotive test track on a 75-acre (0.30 km2) site located in Muncie, Indiana. The Muncie facility allows EMD to supply locomotives to publicly funded passenger rail agencies that require their rail equipment to be assembled in the United States. Production at the facility has begun with 125 workers now hired with plans to add more.  On October 28, the first locomotive produced at the plant, Ferromex SD70ACe #4092, was rolled out.

Sporting its sparkling new “CIT” image, CEFX SD9043MAC 130 is seen in transit on the KCS in Fulton, KY December 24th,  heading to a new assignment. (Joe Ferguson)

CADRAIL / RB Recycling

As of December 17^th the confirmed VIA F40PH-2’s at CAD Railway Services for rebuild are 6404, 6414 (the “Turd”), 6421, and 6424.  There are 2 to 4 others that are there, but numbers unknown. VIA F40PH-3 6404 was released in late December and was sent to MMC.  It is now in service.

Former GO Transit F59PH 533, RRPX 18533  is still stored next to the old CN/Alstom Shop in Pointe St-Charles yard. A year ago this loco was released from Cadrail in MI-TRAIN livery, one of eight ordered for a new Michigan based intercity commuter service.  The state project was cancelled and the locomotive was returned to Montreal. It still sports the green, blue, and silver livery, but the MI-TRAIN lettering apprears to be recently removed.  Also seen in the yard were several old AMT ex-CP and ex-GO commuter coaches.

Larry Amaloo captured a quartet of Soo SD60’s trailing in train 240 near O’Hare airport at Bensenville, IL December 27^th. 6029 and red sisters 6043, 6045 and 6054 will join Soo 6042 - already at Montreal’s St. Luc yard - less than 3 miles from the Cad Railway Industries shops.

Alex Pallo Jr. caught CP (ex-SOO) SD60 6225 on her first run as the trailing unit on westbound CP train 233-06.  CP 6225 with CP SD40-2's 6005 and 6072 trailing is seen during crew change at Smiths Falls ON December 6^th.

Running in idle outside CADRAIL Dec 11^th  Richard Marchi caught freshly painted and lettered CP SD60 6228, ex-SOO 6028. 

Michael Berry took these shots on a snowy December 10^th.    CP SD60 6228 was almost complete and CEFX GP40-3 6537 has a new “CIT” long hood logo.  The unit is destined to an industry in Norma, Wisonsin on UP.  It arrived in Toronto on December 16^th.

Diesel Electric Services

Making an overnight stay June 29^th at ONR Cochrane shops on her way to Kapuskasing's Tembec Mill from Diesel Electric Service of Sudbury is GE 44 tonner DESX 206. This unit had to be hauled from North Bay to Kapuskasing over 2 days with it's own designated ONR unit (GP9 1603) at a break neck speed of 20 mph. The train number for the movement was #999. In this photo we see the SBU being installed on the coupler of the unit moments before her departure on the Kapuskasing Subdivision.

Little gems can  be found at ONR Cochrane Shop. This particular case is a prime example. Spending the weekend at the Shops is former CN GMD1 1127 now owned by Diesel Electric Services in Sudbury. It's unknown at this time where the unit is actually heading, but Cochrane has been visited previously by the DESX unit back in June.

Industrial Rail Services Inc (IRSI)

VIA RDC1’s 6135 and 6148 are both on hand at Sudbury, ON, (after being moved from Vancouver Island, BC). These RDC’s are standby for VIA trains 185 and 186.

During mid-December, rebuilt VIA Budd 6251 was being tested in Moncton, NB.

On December 28^th Industrial Rail Services released Rebuilt LRC car #3344 and was placed on the rear of VIA train #615 enroute to Montreal, #615.  The train was all Renaissance equipment with an HEP “Park” car on rear (for the Christmas season) and the new LRC  car  coupled on the tail end. 

© CRO January 2012