RAILWAY OBSERVATIONS Updated Version 05/13/07 ______

By William Baird JUNE 2007 CANADIAN PACIFIC

CP Locomotives Retired since last issue: CP SD40-2’s 5498, 5584, 5639, 5646, 5655, 5656, 5666, 5816, 5826, and 5834 were all retired on March 30th. CP RAIL SYSTEM 5498 is a former SD45, one of seven SD45’s rebuilt to SD40M-2’s by MORRISON/KNUDSEN in 1995.

CP SD40 5500 was finally moved to Revelstoke, BC, arriving on May 13th. 2007. It is still painted in faded CP RAIL action red (no multi-mark), but the museum is expected to repaint her into the “as delivered” CPR tuscan red and grey “script” livery. In the meantime, the SD40 will be stored inside beside 5468 and car #4.

CP is having a sale of SD40-2’s with bids completed on May 9th: The locomotives include: SOO 781, 786, CP 5419, 5566, 5579, 5605, 5652, 5667, 5669, 5699, 5752, 5758, 5768, and 5821.

On April 28th, freshly painted CP FP9Au’s 4106 and 4107 were released from NRE, and have been forwarded to Alyth Yard in Calgary AB. Doug Cameron caught (through a hole in the fence), freshly painted CP FP9Au’s 4106 and 4107 outside at the NRE shops in Capreol, ON, on April 29th, 2007. http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w94/sd402f/4107-1.jpg http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w94/sd402f/4106-4107.jpg http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w94/sd402f/4106-1.jpg Chris Wilson’s great shot of the CP 4107/4106 being forwarded on CP 105-04: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v406/CP9102/?action=view¤t=CP9775.jpg

CP has begun testing a new NATIONAL RAILWAY EQUIPMENT two-engine “N- ViroMotive” switcher called a 2GS-14B, which is an Ultra-Low Emitting “GenSet” locomotive. Painted in the very flashy blue, gold and white NRE paint scheme, the unit has also tested on some US railroads including the PROVIDENCE & WORCHESTER. NORFOLK SOUTHERN are buying three 3GS-21B’s, which are similar to the switcher testing on CP but with 2100-horsepower and with three (not two) engines. NREX 2007 is model 2GS-14B which is a B+B 1400plus-horsepower “GenSet” switcher built from a former GP7 or GP9 and helps reduce fuel consumption about 64% compared with a GP40-2 locomotive. The N-ViroMotive switcher is designed to reduce certain air emissions about 80%, improve tractive effort between 50 and 65%, and cut fuel usage between 35 and 50% compared with a conventional switcher. The GenSet locomotive also features microprocessor-based electronic controls and modularized mechanical platforms to decrease maintenance requirements.

10 of the former SOO LINE SD60’s that were returned to the lessor CEFX, have been repainted into the CEFX paint scheme, which is reminiscent of the BOSTON AND MAINE RR 1970’s livery. 10 of these units are now leased to the BNSF. Photo of CEFX SD60 6019: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=728756

On April 16th UP SD9043AC 8303 was on train 235 (, QC to Toronto, ON). NOTE: In the list below, there are several units repaying H-P-H to CP, which are now transferred off CP property. The purpose of this list is to show a snapshot example of the foreign units operating on CP during the month of April. This list continues to change weekly.

On June 2nd, 2007, CP’s St-Luc Diesel shop will celebrate it’s anniversary. Examples of CP’s and AMT’s locomotive fleet and Miniature HO and N-scale modules will display CP rolling stock and diesels and steam power. There will be CP employees from days gone by enjoying photo’s, memorabilia and other the presentations to showcase the spectacular history of what I like to call it “Hollowed Ground”. It is the work-place of Giulio Capuano, Tony Fusco, Ron Ellison and other great friends of mine. Some of our CRO readers may not be aware but St-Luc yard is famous for the last brick roundhouse built and the first Hump-yard built in . It was also the home base of CP’s eclectic MLW/Alco fleet.

A snapshot of foreign power on CP April 27, 2007 (All locomotive traces courtesy of Luc Lanthier) CEFX SD40-2 2812 Arr. Bensenville,Il April 26 CEFX SD40-2 2815 Arr. Inter.NS Unknown,Pa April 12 CEFX SD40-2 3161 Arr. Clearing Yard,Il April 22 CEFX SD40-2 3162 Dep. Dunmore,AB April 27 at 17:25pm CEFX SD40-2 3171 Arr. Unknown,In April 27 at 18:44pm CEFX SD40-2 3180 Arr. Clearing Yard,Il April 27 at 11:18am CEFX SD40-2 7108 Arr. Clearing Yard,Il April 14 CSXT C60-9W 660 Arr. Detroit,Mi April 27 at 02:15am CSXT C60-9W 666 Arr. Unknown April 27 at 14:43pm CSXT SD70ACe 4705 Arr. Windsor,ON April 25 CSXT C40-8 7328 Arr. Bensenville,Il April 27 at 10:27am (ex-CR) CSXT C40-8W 7587 Arr. ,MB April 27 at 02:17am CSXT C40-8W 7690 Arr. Sunbury,Pa April 27 at 19:30pm CSXT C40-8W 7740 Arr. Toronto Obico,ON April 27 at 23:22pm CSXT C40-8W 7871 Arr. Unknown,NY April 27 at 15:45pm CSXTSD40-2 8210 Arr. Unknwn,In April 27 at 06:15am UP SD40-2 2928 Arr. St-Paul,Mn April 16 UP SD9043MAC 8303 Arr. Red Wings,Mn April 27 at 06:24am UP C40-8 9073 Dep. Bensenville,Il April 11 UP C40-8 9435 Arr. Clearing Yard,Il April 25 UP C40-8 9505 Arr. Unknown April 27 at 22:34pm UP SD40-2 9943 Arr. Toronto Yard,ON April 27 at 10:53am FURX SD40-2 7252 Arr. St-Paul,Mn April 17 NS SD70M-2 2606 Arr. Clearing Yard,Il April 23 NS C40-8 9405 Arr. Sunbury,Pa April 27 at 19:30pm NS C40-9W 9899 Dep. Taylor,Pa April 27 at 23:22pm KCS SD70ACe 4001 Arr. Interchange UP St-Paul,Mn April 1 BNSF SD40-2 6391 Dep. Windsor,ON April 27 at 23:05pm BNSF SD40-2 6814 Arr. BNSF ,Mn April 23 BNSF SD40-2 6843 Dep Portage,Wi April 27 at 22:06pm BNSF SD40-2 6919 Arr. Harvey,ND April 27 at 18:1828am BNSF SD40-2 7001 Arr. Alyth,AB April 26 BNSF SD40-2 7013 Arr. Winnipeg,MB April 27 at 02:19am BNSF SD40-2 7014 Dep. Weyburn,SK April 27 at 21:37pm BNSF SD40-2 7128 Dep. Bensenville,Il April 27 at 21:29pm BNSF SD40-2 8057 Arr. St-Paul,Mn April 27 at 10:49am BNSF SD75M 8204 Arr. Inter.BNSF St-Paul,Mn April 6

On April 26th, a CP train powered by AC4400CW 8644, ES44AC 8814, AC4400CW 9730 derailed near Lethbridge, at Bow Island, AB.. CP ES44AC 8814 was only a few months old. The three wrecked units were forwarded to Calgary’s Alyth Yard and arrived on April 28th for further evaluation and disposition.

The family of a CP Rail engineer who stayed at the controls of a racing train say he died a hero, saving his fellow crew members and others from death and injury in the town of Trail, B.C., according to this report by Terri Theodore published by the Canadian Press. CP GP38-2’s 3030 and 3076 hauling 11 freight cars could not slow down and lost it on the curve. Lonnie Plasko, 51, worked for CP rail for almost half of his life and was anticipating the celebration of his 25th anniversary with the company this June. Mr. Plasko's body was found beneath one of the cars of the train wreck Tuesday, a day after the crash. His niece, Lisa Douglas, said the family has learned Mr. Plasko told the two remaining crewmembers to jump from the train as it careened down the steep track towards the Trail. The accident happened April 23rd "Teck Cominco is quite dangerous with pipelines and parking lots and lots of other people there. So he really did do a great, great service to everybody," Ms. Douglas said. “He really was very heroic. It could have ended up so much more tragically than just one person lost." Ms. Douglas said it was clear her uncle stayed with the train to do the best he could to control the situation. Investigators are checking the braking systems of every one of the 10 rail cars and two locomotives involved in the crash. Dan Holbrook with the Transportation Safety Board says it's clear the train was running uncontrolled down the steep track before it derailed on the curve. Anything over 1.8 per cent is considered mountain grade and the track the train charged down Monday afternoon was near four per cent. The track in question has grades from 3.9% to 4.1%. This is by far the steepest track still in regular operation in BC. Not far from this site there is a stretch of track with over 3% grades. In other places around BC and southern there were many places and even today still are a few places with grades between 2% and 2.4%. "When you're pulling massive tonnages on a steel-on-steel, low-friction-type environment, every part of a percentage of grade is very significant," he said. Mr. Holbrook added such a grade would be one of the steepest tracks in North America. Witnesses reported smoke pouring from the speeding train's brakes before the accident. CP Rail spokesman Mark Seland said the two surviving crew members have been offered critical-stress debriefing and will be interviewed to help determine the cause of Monday's crash. "We will be interviewing the crew some time over the next couple of days, taking the data from the event recorder, and possible witnesses, and then pair all that to what the TSB is looking at and Transport Canada and then try to piece together that picture." Mr. Seland says the crew would have performed several safety tests on the train before it left the rail yard that day, including a brake test. "That's a test from the tail end to the front to see if they have adequate pressure in the air pipes," he said. Because an engineer was killed in the crash, Transport Canada is also conducting its own inquiry.

Trace of CP SD90HMAC’s

CP SD90HMAC 9300 Arr. Thunder Bay,ON April 25 at 17:28pm CP SD90HMAC 9301 Arr. Winnipeg,MB April 12 CP SD90HMAC 9302 Arr. Thunder Bay,ON April 25 at 14:03pm CP SD90HMAC 9303 Arr. Winnipeg,MB March 18

Effective May 2nd, all CP 9300’s have been placed in storage in Winnipeg. CP 9300 and 9302 are stored serviceable, and CP 9301 has a cracked oil pan and 9303 is in need of a new turbocharger, both now stored unserviceable. A few years back, CP reneged on a chance to trade these four units, for a quartet of new SD70ACe's.

Chris Wilson took this fabulous shot of a pair of CP SD9043MAC(U)’s sandwiching a tiny looking CP GP9u west of Toronto in early May. http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=186129

Trace of D&H GP38-2’s

DH GP38-2 7303 Arr. Montreal,Qc May 5 at 17:36pm DH GP38-2 7304 Arr. Binghamton,NY May 5 at 09:14am CP GP38-2 7305 Arr. Albany,NY May 5 at 16:04pm STLH GP38-2 7306 Arr. Binghamton,NY May 5 at 09:14am CP GP38-2 7307 Arr. Taylor,Pa May 5 at 21:59pm STLH GP38-2 7308 Dep. Fort Edward,NY April 16 CP GP38-2 77309 Arr. Philadelphia,Pa April 13 CP GP38-2 7310 Arr. Taylor,Pa May 5 at 21:59pm CP GP38-2 7311 Arr. Saratoga Springs,NY May 4 DH GP38-2 7312 Arr. Montreal,Qc May 5 at 15:42pm

More new CP ES44AC’s arrived on the property in May: CP ES44AC 8841 Dep. Medicine Hat,AB May 10 at 19:51pm CP ES44AC 8842 Arr. Detroit,Mi May 10 at 19:36pm CP ES44AC 8843 Dep. Medicine Hat,AB May 10 at 19:51pm CP ES44AC 8844 Dep. Schreiber,ON May 10 at 22:16pm CP ES44AC 8845 Dep. Schreiber,ON May 10 at 22:16pm

INTERNATIONAL STEAM EXCURSION (August-September 2007) CANADIAN PACIFIC 4-6-4 #2816 and MILWAUKEE 4-8-4 #261

Sponsored by friends of the #261 and CANADIAN PACIFIC August 17-22, 2007 PASSPORT REQUIRED (One-way positioning moves) Powered by CP 4-6-4 "Hudson #2816 the train departs on August 17 from Calgary, Alberta and journeys across the Canadian prairie on what was once the route of the CP's famous "The Canadian" streamliner. Ride in luxury premium class in the Super Dome #53 or Skytop Observation "Cedar Rapids". Comfortable Coach seating will also be available. Overnight stops will be made in Swift Current and Broadview, Sask. and a one-day layover will be made in Winnipeg. Then our train moves on to the former SOO LINE main line, the route of the "Winnipeger". After an overnight stop in Thief River Falls, MN you will arrive in Minneapolis at CP Shoreham Shops on Aug 22. [Note: Hotels are not included in the price of the ticket; however, hotel information will be furnished. It will be the responsibility of the passengers to make their own reservations.]

August 29 - 30, 2007 (One Way positioning moves) CPR Hudson 2816 will journey on the main line that was once the route of the famed Milwaukee Road ’s between Minneapolis and Chicago. On Aug. 29 view the scenic Mississippi River Valley from the comfort of the train and pass through the famous bore at Tunnel City. After an overnight layover in the "Beer City", Milwaukee, WI, ride the high-speed double track mainline into Chicago Union Station. Choose from Luxury Premium, First Class or Coach Class.

September 1-2-3, 2007 (Round trips each day) On September 1-2-3 the 2816 will make round trips over the former Milwaukee Road main line from Franklin Park METRA Station to Sturtevant, WI including the freight line from Bensenville to Tower A-20. An optional BBQ lunch will be served at trackside in Sturtevant. Lunch tickets must be ordered at the time you order your train tickets.

Sept 4th will begin the journey back to Minneapolis with a one-way trip from Chicago to La Crosse, WI. After an overnight stay in this pleasant city in the "Hiawatha Valley" of the Mississippi, speed back to Minneapolis on the CP main line, arriving on Sept. 5. Choose from luxury premium class, first class or coach class accommodations for all trips. [Note: Hotel information will be furnished for LaCrosse, WI only.]

September 8-9, 2007 (Round trips each day) Plan to be aboard as the 2816 steams along former Soo Line routes out of CP Shoreham Shops in Minneapolis along the ex-Soo Line main line to Glenwood, MN. Enjoy this ride over freight only trackage as we cross the Crow River at Rockford and pass through "Soo Line" towns such as Buffalo, Annandale and Paynesville. At Glenwood 2816 will turn on the former Soo Line turntable, the first steam Locomotive in decades to use it. On Sunday Sept. 9, 2816 heads east along the original Soo Line route to Sault Ste. Marie with a round trip to Dresser, WI. Enjoy the scenery of the St. Croix River Valley and ride across the Soo "Low Bridge" over the St. Croix River. See the former Soo depots at Osceola, WI and Dresser, WI before the train turns on the wye at Dresser for the return to Minneapolis Shoreham Shops.

September 15, 2007 STEAM DOUBLEHEADER (Round trip) Two steam locomotives running on the main line in 2007? It seems hard to believe, but #2816 will team up with Milwaukee Road #261 for a double-headed round trip along the Mississippi River, Minneapolis to La Crosse, WI in what promises to be the steam event of 2007. Choose from Luxury Premium Class, First class or Coach Class accommodations. An optional BBQ lunch will be served at trackside at La Crosse. Lunch tickets must be ordered at the time train tickets are ordered

September 16-22 PASSPORT REQUIRED (One-way positioning moves) #2816 departs Minneapolis Sept. 16 for Calgary via Winnipeg, with overnight stops at Thief River Falls, Brandon, , Moose Jaw,Sask. and Medicine Hat, Alta. A one day layover is planned in Winnipeg. You will have a choice of luxury premium class or coach class. Arrival in Calgary is on Saturday September 22, 2007. Please call (651) 765-9812 for additional information between 9:00 AM & 4:00 PM. Mail ticket orders to: Friends of the 261, 4322 Lakepoint Ct. Shoreview, MN 55126

CANADIAN NATIONAL

CN Locomotives Retired since last issue: IC SW14 1477, on April 19th.

DMIR NW2u number 11 has been sold to Hallet Dock, in West Duluth, MN for switching duties at the port.

Three IC GP38-2’s are being sent to NRE in Capreol, ON, for rewiring and repainting into CN paint. The numbers are 9605, 9610, and 9634.

Ten of 12 WC SD45’s, retired in December and January, reinstated in January 2007, never used, were retired again in April. The numbers of the SD45/SD45u’s are 6529, 7495, 7501, 7507, 7514, 7515, 7519, 7527, 7531, and 7554. The only active ex-WC SD45 is 7525 which visited Mac yard - Toronto the last week of April and accumulating mileage after two months on the UNION PACIFIC repaying H-P-H.

DMIR SD38-2 209, retired on March 26th, and SD40-3 418, retired April 10th, were un-retired on April `17th and placed in “stored unserviceable” status.

On April 22nd, 2007, CN began taking bids on its surplus locomotives with a “Spring Sale”. A wide variety of models located around the CN system are included, such as GP9RM’s , GMD1’s, GP40-2LW’s, C39-8’s, C30-7’s, B23-7’s SW1200RS’s,, and SD45’s, SD45u’s. Knowledge of CN motive power will assist buyers as no specific info on heritage, or whether the unit is a wide cab or not, is provided. Go to CN's website and click on Surplus Assets, Locomotives, Bid Form to see the extensive list for sale. http://www.cn.ca/about/surplus_assets/surplus_equipment/locomotives/en_locomotives.shtml

51 units for sale at Woodcrest: WC GP40 3003, BC RAIL B36-7 3607, 3609, BC RAIL C30-7 3624, CN GP9RM 4010, 4015, 4016, 4024, 4027, 4030, 4031, 4034, CN SD40 5078, 5233, DWP SD40 5902, 5904, 5905, GTW SD40 5912, 5922, 5925, 5928, SAR (Savage Alberta Railway) C39-8 7480, 7483, 7486, 7488, CN GP40-2LW 9421, WC SD45’s 6497, 6529, 6588, 6594, 6605, 7495, 7498, 7501, 7502, 7506, 7507, 7512, 7514, 7515, 7519, 7522, 7524, 7526, 7527, 7530, 7531, 7532, 7551, 7554, 7638. Photo: http://csxchicago.gotdns.com:6003/CN_Trains/SmallPicsRoll60/0029883-R1-068-32A.jpg

Five for sale at Grand Prairie, AB: SAR/ARN C30-7 1002, B30-7 1007, 1008, C39-8 7481, and 8630.

13 for sale in , AB CN GMD1 1078, 1082, (All with A-1-A trucks), CN SW1200RS 1375, 1385, CN GP9RM 4006, 4017, 4021, 4033, 4035, ARN B23-7 4203, 4205, CN GP38-2W 4779 (wrecked), and CN GP9RM 7237.

Note: CN GMD1 1063 and CN SD40 5000 (which is CN’s first SD40), were removed from the sale pending future display in Edmonton. Two units so far have been found to have sold in this sale: WC GP40 3003 to an industry in Mexico, and CN GP40-2LW 9421, to WESTERN RAIL .

At the end of March some the following CN units were seen in deadlines in Edmonton, Alberta; GP9 Slug 214, GMD1’s 1063, 1078, 1082, SW1200RS 1385, GP9RM’s 4017, 4021, 4033, GP38-2(W) 4779, SD40 5000, GP9RM 7078 and GTW GP9 4520. GP9 4520 still retains its original high nose and had been sitting in CN’s MacMillan Yard in Toronto, for several years prior to being moved to Edmonton earlier this year. Also seen in the deadline were NREX C39-8 7480, SAR C39-8 7485 and SAR C39-8 8606. These are from the Savage Alberta Railway.

In late April, after being out of service for two years with frame damage, IC’s Woodcrest shop released freshly rebuilt, and repainted CN GP38-2(W) 4794 back into service. The unit has been forwarded to Prince George.

Ken Lanovich caught fire damaged CM GMD1m 1436 arriving at IC`s Markham yard 3-19-07 on train 397. Check out the consist! http://csxchicago.gotdns.com:6003/CN_Trains/SmallPicsRoll60/0029883-R1-016-6A.jpg http://csxchicago.gotdns.com:6003/CN_Trains/SmallPicsRoll60/0029883-R1-020-8A.jpg

In mid May, CN 149 emerged from the with a venerable UP 8-40C leading an even older CN (sublettered WC) ex-GEC-Alsthom, nee-CN SD40. This arrangement didn't last long as the crew asked) that the power be turned at Ballantyne (Taschereau Yard) to put the other unit in the lead. This marks one of the few times a UP unit has been on the lead in the Montreal area.

In the morning of April 15th this colourful CN consist rolled through Ingersoll ON on CN Train 394 with BNSF Warbonnet painted B40-8W 520, CN SD40-2W 5255, CN/GTW Sd40-2 5944, NS C40-8W 8357 http://railfan.thegrebs.com/CN-in-Technicolor/bnsf520a

CN Train 417 was spotted at CN’s Jasper yard with CN SD40-2W 5272, DM&IR SD40T-2 406 (in new CN paint) and ARN B23-7 1010 in the consist.

At Walker Yard, Edmonton on May 2nd, CN train M340. He had CN SD70M-2 8011 and BNSF GP60 8712 (still in ATSF war bonnet paint), arriving from Pontiac, MI the day before on CN train M357.

On April 22nd, Alex Roberts spotted two "foreign" SD40-2's at the Fairview Yard, in a three unit set with a CN Dash-9, HLCX SD40-2 8154 (ex. BN 8154) and BC Rail SD40-2 767. On April 29th, he reported seeing IC/CN SD70 1009 in the yard and NS C40-9W 9016 the day before.

CANADIAN SHORTLINES, REGIONALS & INDUSTRIALS

Repaired -CARTIER MIINING AC4400CW’s 17 and 18 have come back from RELCO in Albia, Iowa, via the CP using AARX initials. They have already moved by ship from Montreal, back to QCM. Two photos by: Jonathon Leese: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=737425 http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=737426 Wrecked CARTIER MINING AC4400CW #17 on a TTX flat at Albia, Iowa, USA January 6th, 2007 http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=171149

NEW BRUNSWICK EAST COAST RS18u’s 1854 and 1859 (both ex-CP), have been transferred to the OTTAWA CENTRAL. NBEC RS18u #1819 is expected at SYDNEY COAL RWY. at the end of April in need of a main generator change out.

On April 28th, the OTTAWA CENTRAL held their Open House at Ottawa’s Walkley Yard. Some VIA passenger equipment was display. VIA F40PH 6453 and two cars were present. The cars were open for public access but the locomotive was not. The Bytown Railway Society had some of their heritage equipment out. See photo: http://www.talisiorder.ca/dump/IMG_4670.jpg

Here are Bill Miller’s photo’s of the QNS&L SD40-2’s and SD40-2CLC’s being forwarded west to J&L Consulting, in Chicago Heights, IL. They moved through southern Ontario on CN train 399, behind CN Dash 9-44CW 2504 and SD40-2(W) 5353 in the following order; JLCX 259, JLCX 306, JLCX 305, JLCX 304, JLCX 261, JLCX 308 and JLCX 303. http://hostovsky.com/~WDM/20070414-CN2504W-399-Bayview.jpg http://hostovsky.com/~WDM/20070414-CN2504W-399-Snake2.jpg

In mid-May Len Lanovitch informed CRO that the QNS&L locomotives shipped down to Chicago Heights, Illinois have begun to be scrapped. Number 306 was being torched the week of May 14th, and 259 along with 304 had already been cut down to their frames. The 300-series SD40-2CLC’s had been rebuilt at the former CN Pointe St Charles shop just over 10 years ago, and judging by he look of the cab interiors, it appeared as though they had received little use on QNS&L. It is a real shame that these units found no interested buyers.

On March 30th, southbound ONTARIO NORTHLAND train 308 derailed at mileage 9.6 on the Englehart Subdivision, just north of Englehart, Ontario. The lead unit on the train was ONR SD75I 2104. Twenty-two of the train’s thirty-three cars derailed, and the equivalent of a full tank car of sulfuric acid was spilled into a creek.

Here are some interesting photo’s by Walter Pfefferle in late April that show (ex- SOO LINE) ONTARIO SOUTHLAND GP9 378 in various views as well as some classic OSRX power. http://railfan.thegrebs.com/OSR

ELECTRO-MOTIVE CANADA COMPANY (By Don McQueen)

Summary of EMCC deliveries during APR 2007:

EMCC shipped 43 units in April, 34 completed units from London, two from ITS-Welland, and seven convertibles. All but three of the completed units went to the customers, 13 of these overseas.

FreightLiner received the last 8 of 16 JT42CWR-T1 (66587-66594) in order 20058772 which were shipped to Halifax on their own wheels. Accompanying them were 5 JT42CWR for European lease. EU-10 & 11 were in grey, and EU-01 (from IRS-W) EU-12 & 14 were in green Freightliner-Poland livery.

An additional 22 units in order 20056723 for 100 Union Pacific SD70ACe were delivered. UP received one (8522) from ITS-Welland, and 18 (8538, 8541-8544, 8547, 8549-8553, 8555-8560 & 8562) left London for UP in Chicago via CN. One completed unit (8536) went from London to LaGrange for evaluation and two in primer (8545 & 8554) went to Mid-America Car in Kansas City for painting.

Another six incomplete units in the same order (EMDX 3010-3015, to become 8615-8620) were shipped as 'convertibles' having a completed frame and trucks painted grey, and a prime mover shrink-wrapped in white plastic. They are to be completed, painted and tested at the Bombardier Inc. Domicilio Conocido s/n CD Sahagun, Mexico (BTM).

The first Kansas City Southern convertible (EMDX 3016, to become KCS 4030) was also shipped from London to BTM. It is the first of 30 SD70ACe units in order 20056856, all of which will be shipped from London as convertibles. Sorry ... no new red, yellow and black units will be available for photos in London.

Prototype Algerian freight GT36CW, (SNTF 060DR-01 in order 20028420) was painted mid-month in orange with white striping. Since construction began last June, the primered unit (with green grills) has been to the National Railroad Test Center (FAST) at Pueblo and back.

In late April Bombardier Transportation confirmed that it had completed an agreement with Electro-Motive Diesel to assemble an initial order of 100 SD70ACe’s. The deal valued at approximately 50 million euros ($67 million U.S.) calls for the fabrication of sub-parts and assembly of the locomotives at Bombardier’s production plant in Sahagun, Mexico. Since 1998, Bombardier’s Sahagun location has manufactured more than 1100 locomotives for EMD. The deliveries are scheduled to start by mid-June 2007 and will continue until the end of the year.

In late April, EMDX SD70ACe 3014 (this is one of 15 UP units sent to Mexico for completion) passed through Shreveport, LA on a southbound KCS freight enroute to Mexico: http://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=56562

CANADIAN REPAIR SHOPS

RAILPOWER RPRX GG20-B 1705, has been leased to NOVACOR Chemicals, in Joffre, AB. It is suspected that this switcher is actually demonstrating there.

RAILINK HR412W’s 3585 and 3586, stored for the last few years on the OTTAWA VALLEY, have been sold to MARQUETTE RAIL in Michigan.

Former CN GMD1m’s WPIX 1105 and 1144, owned by DIESEL ELECTRIC SERVICES in Sudbury, ON have been sent to CAD in Lachine QC. Their ultimate disposition is unknown.

Released from CAD in late April was BNSF GG20B 1205, which is ex-CP 1704, a switcher bought, but never used by CP. Arriving at CAD in late-April was cab-less R/C BNSF 1211 which arrived for repairs from Haslett, TX. Released from CAD in early May were UPY RP20BD’s YPY 2685 and 2686, on the CP destined to the UP in Fort Worth, TX. UPY 2687 and 2688 will follow and were seen in fresh paint. LLPX GP15-1 1509 has been released from CAD and has arrived back at the Chemins de Fer CHARLEVOIX. In early May, BMMX GP9 206, ex-GTW 4438 CN C44-9W 2602, KCS GG20B 1869, CN SW1200RS 7304, RS18u (CAD) 1825, US ARMY GP10 1876, and the two ex-MAINE CENTRAL RTEX U18B’s 404 and 407, were also at CAD.

In late March, NREX SD40-2 5644 departed the NRE facility in Capreol, Ontario for lease to the Athabasca Northern Railway (ANY) in Boyle, Alberta. The unit is former SD40-2 5644.

NATIONAL de MEXICO E60C electric EA 013 was shipped to Montreal, QC on CN train 362 on April 8. Currently, seven other former NdeM E60C electrics have been sitting at Lachine in Montreal since late last year, stored on trackage owned by the former Dominion Bridge Company. The units had been stored in Texas since 1998. The other seven E60C electrics stored here include; EA 011, 014, 015, 016, 018, 019 and 029. It is not confirmed at present, what will become of these units.

On May 4th Nova Scotia’s TRENTON RAIL WORKS (Builders of box cars, covered hoppers and gondolas), shut down, with a loss of more than 300 jobs, after more than 135 years in production. U.S.-based parent Greenbrier Companies announced last month that it would shift operations to Mexico and Oregon to take advantage of lower wages and closer proximity to markets. Several companies have apparently expressed an interest in the Nova Scotia plant.

COMMUTER LINES AND

GO TRANSIT:

Brand new GO TRANSIT MP40PH-3C 600 has been testing near Pueblo, CO. and has arrived back in Boise, ID, to be painted and tweaking. This is a brand new model to Canada, and is the first MP40PH-3C off the Boise-production line. http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=639780 GO TRANSIT MP40PH-3C 601 is now painted in the new livery at Boise, Idaho: http://hostovsky.com/~WDM/GO601.jpg

On April 27th, the 40-year old (STM) opened the three new stations on the north end of the “orange line” from Henri-Bourrassa Station into Laval, which is Quebec’s second largest city. The three new stations are Cartier, De La Concorde, and Montmorency. The construction of this extension took several years, and went way over budget. Due to the Metro opening, the AMT train station at St. Martin in Laval was closed on April 27th.

VIA Rail Canada:

Keller Graham photographed VIA F40PH 6400 at St-Basile-le-Grand AMT station on May 2nd. http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellergraham/482617686/

There are 30 VIA F40PH units equipped with AC. 6400, 6404, 6407, 64, 08 6409 6410,, 6411, 6412, 6413, 6414, 6415, 6416. 6417, 6418, 6419, 6424, 6425, 6427, 6428, 6431, 6434, 6435, 6436, 6441, 6442, 6444, 6448, 6449, 6453, 6458 the rest do not have AC. The TCRC (engineers union) actually has a grievance still outstanding to try to get Via Rail to do the rest of them.

E&N -VIA service is now restored on Vancouver Island, BC, on slow orders, while improvements to the rail are going on. Train passenger service on Vancouver Island had been suspended due to poor track conditions, and since the repairs a 10 MPH slow order has been imposed on the Victoria Subdivision after recent rail and track inspections

VIA #1, “The Canadian” was seen at Union Station on April 26, 2007 with the following consist: VIA F40PH’s 6458, 6441, and 6438, Baggage 8613, Coaches 8109, 8125, Skyline 8507, Monck Manor, Burton Manor, Bliss Manor, Fraser Manor, Skyline 8515, Fairholme, Thompson Manor, Laird Manor, Bell Manor, and Prince Albert Park.

CANADIAN RAILWAY HISTORY

To assist in the fundraising, to obtain a newsletter or for museum news: WEST COAST RAILWAY ASSOC – WCRA: www.wcra.org After 9 years of absence from the rails, the ex BC RAIL/CPR 2860 made its first run in the Vancouver area on April 15th 2007 with ex-CPR FP7A 4069 and low nosed BNSF SD9 1724. Check this link for some great photos http://www3.telus.net/rlink/RailPhotos/RoyalHudson/index.htm

KAMLOOPS RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY: www.kamloopsheritagerailway.com ROCKY MOUNTAIN RAILWAY SOCIETY: www.6060.org/index.htm : www.railwaymuseum.ab.ca The Alberta 2005 Centennial Railway Museum Society: www.alberta2005rail.com

CRHA --EXPORAIL in St-Constant, QC: http://www.exporail.org/association/intro_crha.htm HELP REVIVE HISTORY! Once a staple of the Canadian railway landscape, linking towns and cities from coast-to-coast, the Budd Rail Diesel Car has all but vanished from the landscape. Those that remain in service in Ontario and BC have undergone numerous modifications in order to meet the intercity travel needs of Canadians today. However, Canada's last surviving, largely "stock" RDC-1, former CPR 9069, is slowly coming back to life at Exporail - the . Your help is urgently needed to overcome a $12 000 funding shortfall at a critical stage of the work to bring this stainless icon of the 1950s back to life. Donations are tax deductible in Canada, and donors will be recognized inside the car body, unless they stipulate otherwise. Please make your check or money order payable to the Canadian Railroad Historical Association and sent to 110 St Pierre Street, St Constant, Quebec J5A 1G7. Be sure to mark "RDC Project" on the memo line. John Godfrey Les Services SEMAPHORE Services www.semaphoreservices.com

Visiting Montreal? If you have a question about getting to EXPORAIL. Etc you can visit the MONTRAIN site. These guys know the Montreal transit system and can help. The list is [email protected], just post the question there. It might take a combination of train, subway and bus

BYTOWN RAILWAY SOCIETY http://www.bytownrailwaysociety.ca/about.htm

ELGIN COUNTY RAILWAY MUSEUM in St. Thomas, ON: www.ecrm5700.org On May 13th, the Elgin County Railway Museum in St. Thomas held it’s annual Railway Nostalgia Day in Ontario. For more details go to http://www.ecrm5700.org/PDF/showflyer.pdf

SOUTHERN ONTARIO LOCOMOTIVE RESTORATION SOCIETY: www.steam-train.org TORONTO RAILWAY HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION: http://www.trha.ca E&N Division, Canadian Railroad Historical Association http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/roundhousemuseumproject

Montreal Railroad Modelers Association: The last Wednesday of each month, (19:00-21:00) you may visit the HO scale CANADA CENTRAL (AMFM/MRMA) layout and Montreal N-Trak at 891, rue St- Paul O. Montréal, QC. H3C 1M7 Your small donation would assist us in our efforts. [email protected] www.canadacentral.org

SOUTH OF THE BORDER

UNION PACIFIC has decided to keep the following units in their original color scheme and numbers: CNW C44-9W 8646, 8701, and DRGW SD40T-2 5371.

The Medina Railway Museum's two recently acquired New Central E8s have arrived in New York from Nashville, TN. The units traveled from Nashville through Louisville to Cincinnati, and then through Cleveland to Buffalo, N.Y. From Buffalo they moved to Niagara Falls and ultimately to Lockport's Genesee Valley Transportation. The GVT is a short line that operates from Lockport to Brockport, N.Y. The Museum operates excursion trains over the railroad between Medina and Lockport. The two units are New York Central 4068 and 4080, built by EMD in 1953. They retained their NYC numbers in the Penn Central merger of 1968 and were later acquired by NJ Transit, with the 4068 becoming NJ Transit 4320 and the 4080 the 4325. NJ Transit sold the units, and eventually, Michael Fox purchased them. He restored the units to operating condition, complete with the classic "lightning stripe" New York Central livery. The pair were used in charter service by the Tennessee Central Railway Museum, but when TCRM purchased their own units, Fox put the locomotives up for sale. The Medina Railway Museum purchased the two, investing about $150,000 in their purchase, movement and repair. The Medina Railway Museum leases ex-NYC 2900-series Budd coaches from the Western New York Railroad Historical Society, and will have a matching consist of NYC streamlined passenger cars to go with the units. Mechanics serviced and fired up each unit to train museum personnel April 3-6. The units will be stored in a building adjacent to the Lockport Yard facility under cover and fenced in for protection. It will take about another month for the E8s to be readied to pull excursion trains, at which time they will be moved to Medina for the tourist season. The Museum hopes to have them ready for their "Day Out With Thomas" event on May 4-6 and 11-13. The Museum is located in the old New York Central freight depot in Medina built in 1905, and one of the largest (301 feet by 34 feet) surviving wooden freight depots in the . For more information go to www.railroadmuseum.net.

Several ex-NEW JERSEY TRANSIT cars that were in Binghamton, NY are going out west to Colorado to get rebuilt for their new owners, the UTAH TRANSIT AUTHOURITY. The cars will be moved together west on the NS Southern Tier line to Buffalo, SK yard, where they will get handed off to the CP to Toronto and then finally they will get handed off to UP at Chicago. At press time there had been air brake problems in passenger car consist, but they may be moving by the time you read this.

Letters:

Mr. Baird, I read your article in CRO and would like to clarify. J&L Consulting does not “typically scrap units” We firmly believe in rebuilding or repairing units for our Shortline customers. I am providing the logistics and reporting marks to move these units to a more central location for one of my associates. He is trying to sell these units but no one wanted to travel to Northern Quebec. If the units do end up scrap it will not be upon our company in performing that task.

Best Regards,

Jason Tarasenko

President, J&L Consulting Procurement Specialists, Illinois

www.jlconsulting.ca

Bonjour William,

In my neck of the woods, Quebec City, at our Model Railroad club www.qmrs.org I'm organizing a flea market on Saturday June 16, 2007. (if it rains, we do it on Sunday June 17th) from 09h00 to 16h00. If by chance any of you folks happen to be in the area, please drop by. Our address is 3350 chemin de la Gare, in Ste Foy, and we are next door to the VIA Rail station near the Quebec Bridge. If you have any questions you can call me 418 849-4650 or email me [email protected]. Welcome all !!

Merci,

Ronald Pelletier,

St-Foy, QC.

Video of VIA stainless-steel train taken from between the rails! This was posted on the Trains.com Model Railroader forum - looks like someone used a periscope type camera device between the tracks to get some video of the VIA train passing overhead. Scary ... but kinda neat! Kids, don't try this at home! http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=f6c_1178597758&p=1

Bob Boudreau, Saint John, N. B.

The 2007 CANADIAN TRACKSIDE GUIDE is also available directly through BYTOWN RAILWAY SOCIETY http://www.bytownrailwaysociety.ca/sales.htm

Price: $31.95 Cdn or $29.95 in U.S. funds taxes and shipping included. Overseas: $39.00 in Canadian Funds (surface) or $54.00 (Cdn) for air shipment. THANK YOU: Terry Brennan, Bruce Chapman, Doug Cameron, Guilio Capuano, David Cenci, Marc Chouinard, Mark Forseille, Tony Fusco, and the employees of St-Luc Diesel, John Godfrey, GR17f, , Ken Lanovich, Luc Lanthier, Jonathon Leese, Wendell Lemon, Roman Litarchuk, Don McQueen, Bill Miller, Bruce Mercer, Jason Noe, Walter Pfefferle, Brandon Priebe, Alex Roberts, Earl Roberts, Joe Smouin, Jon Snook, Tim Stevens, Ed Van Pelt, Barry Williams, Chris Wilson, Branchline, Tempo Jr, BLHS, WCRA, the Canadian Trackside Guide, and others.

GOT AN OBSERVATION? News stories pertaining to Canadian railways, photos, comments, and questions are always welcome. E-mail photo’s or news to [email protected] and If used, will be placed in the newsletter. Please indicate if you wish your name to be withheld. Please inform us of e-mail address change or to cancel the mailing.

CANADIAN RAILWAY OBSERVATIONS (C.R.O.) *William Baird – Editor -- Montreal, Quebec. Tel: (514) 769-7482 [email protected] *Coordinator: GR17f *EMD Columnist: Don McQueen www.canadacentral.org (Montreal Railroad Modellers Assoc.)