CANADIAN RAILWAY OBSERVATIONS Updated Version 04/15/07 ______

By William Baird MAY 2007 CANADIAN NATIONAL

CN Locomotives Retired in March and April: IC SW14 1507 on March 20th, DMIR SD38-2 209, on March 26th. CN C44-9W 2540 on March 29th, WC GP40 3005 on April 3rd. DMIR SD40-3 418 on April 10th (Note: This is not an SD40T-3, as there were two ex-CSXT units included in this rebuild with the Tunnel Motors).

CN SD50F 5439 was released from NRE-Dixmoor in March 2007. This unit has received a Tier II zero emissions compliant engine, and new yellow frame striping. Photo - Ken Lanovich http://csxchicago.gotdns.com:6003/CN_Trains/SmallPicsRoll57/0024025-R1-059-28.jpg

In late March, CN GMD-1 1436 was placed in the storage lines at the Woodcrest shop. 1436 arrived on March 19th from , with fire damage. This unit joins CN GMD-1’s 1414 and 1443 which have been in storage at Woodcrest for almost two years. When 1414 and 1443 first arrived they were to have truck change outs. Both units have had their trucks removed, but have never been replaced. Over the last year they have had quite a few parts removed, so it is unlikely that these two will ever run again. CN GMD-1 1436 appears to have suffered a main generator fire.

Safety conscious CN has modified CN SD70M-2 8020 at MacMillan Yard shop on 3- 27-2007 with new bright CN orange steps / grab irons on the rear of the raised walkway behind the cab. I assume others are to follow? http://mail.google.com/mail/?attid=0.1&disp=inline&view=att&th=111a5f081741be61

Ex-DMIR SD40T-2 406 is now sporting a fresh coat of CN paint. http://hostovsky.com/~WDM/20070407-DMIR406-Paris.jpg

Former IC SW14 1203 is rebuilt, and now sporting fresh coat of CN paint: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=182586

In early April, CN announced that they intend to close the hump at ’s Symington yard in favor of flat switching. Comment was made that flat switching was better for destinations in yards and terminals down . However, CN is also reportedly installing a new hump yard in Memphis. TN.

A safety audit of CN prompted by two separate train derailments uncovered a long string of problems, which included faulty equipment, improper safety procedures and a high rate of safety defects on locomotives. It was officially released on March 2 after CBC News filed an access to information request. The audit said that CN has completely co-operated with Transport Canada and has improved some practices, but that it must move forward. Transport Canada made 11 recommendations for changes and the railway has already moved to work on eight of the areas. In the first incident during August 2005, a CN train derailed and spilled oil into Alberta’s Lake Wabamun. Two days later, a second train derailed into the Cheakamus Canyon in , dumping caustic soda into the river. The econd section of the report discovered that many CN employees said they feel pressured to get their jobs completed. It also said current practices allow units with safety defects to continue in active service. However, CN rejected that allegation. In an e-mail to Transport Canada obtained by CBC News, a CN official said the report had several inaccurate or misleading findings. The official attributed that on what he called the unstructured manner in which employees were asked questions.

On March 1, CN train 120 derailed 32 cars at Pickering Jct., on CN’s Kingston Subdivision. This is the railway’s mainline between Toronto, Ontario and Montreal, . Powering the train were SD75I 5646, SD40u 6016 and SD75I 5700. There were no injuries in the derailment, but chemicals did escape from some of the derailed cars. However, no evacuation was required. The incident heavily effected the operations of Toronto commuter agency GO Transit and buses had to be sent to transport the stranded morning commuters between Oshawa and Pickering. Crews had hoped to have the tracks re-opened by the following morning. The Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the derailment. Then on March 3, CN train 307 derailed roughly 20 cars on the CN Napadogan Subdivision near Summit, New Brunswick. There were no injuries in this incident.

Also in the early morning hours of March 12, CN train 362 derailed 35 cars on the Kingston Subdivision at Kingston, Ontario. Luckily, no chemicals leaked from the derailed cars. The train was powered by CN SD40-2 5387, BNSF B40-8W 544, CN SD40u 6020 and CPR SD40-2 5720. The derailment blocked both mainline tracks and passengers had to be bused, until the line was eventually re-opened. On March 9, CN operated train 350, which was a loaded military train destined for Valcartier, Quebec. This military base is located just north of Quebec City. The equipment was returning from Fort Kileen, Texas. This train was led by Union Pacific SD70MAC 4337. A second 350 followed on March 11, also loaded with military equipment from Texas and destined for Quebec. During January, CN had operated two separate 351’s to transport the equipment from Valcartier to Texas.

The Village of Homewood, Illinois announced in April that the Railfan Park and Equipment Display are now open. The railfan park is located on the east side of the Canadian National (ex-Illinois Central) / Amtrak / Metra right of way in downtown Homewood IL. Including Metra , train counts at this location routinely exceed 100 per day. Action includes plenty of CN/IC, Amtrak, and Metra trains, along with UP and NS run-throughs. The viewing platform is located just south of one of the few remaining steam-era Illinois Central multi-track signal bridges on the railroad, which makes a great prop for southbound traffic. The south throat of Markham Yard is just a few hundred yards north of the platform site, so something is always happening here! Be sure to park in a municipal lot-- the pay/permit lots immediately surrounding the Metra station are NOT free, and you will get towed if you park in them without paying, or displaying the proper permit. Plenty of free space is available, however, including a lot right across the street from the platform. The Equipment Display is located on the west side of the right of way (which is 8 tracks wide through downtown Homewood). The display includes Illinois Central GP10 8408 in the 1990's "Deathstar" scheme, and IC caboose 9426, in the 1960's orange "I-Ball" scheme. Both units have been freshly restored and were successfully moved onto the site on Sunday, 25 March 2007.

CANADIAN PACIFIC

CP Locomotives Retired: CP SD40-2’s 5584, 5639, 5646, 5655, 5666, and 5815 on March, but the exact date has yet to be determined.

RAILPOWER (RPRX) has directed the last of the ex-CP GG20B’s as follows: 1702 will go to the US ARMY as USAX 6004, RPRX 1704 (which is currently at CAD) will go to BNSF, and RPRX 1701 and 1705 will become RPRX demonstrators.

Due to an extreme motive power shortage, CP has arranged for up to 40 units to be on the property on Horse-Power-Hours from US railroads. On April 15th a “snapshot” showed the following 32 units working on CP, mainly in Western Canada, and on the SOO LINE: 14 CEFX SD90MAC(U)’s, (on H-P-H to UP ), CEFX SD40-2’s 2815, 3161, 3171, 3180, and 7108 (7108 is ex-BN in BN paint), UP SD40-2 2928, C40-8 9073 and 9435, FURX SD40-2 7252, (Ex-BN), NS SD70 2606, NS C40-9W 9405, CSXT C40-8 7328, and 7587, CSXT SD40-2 8210, KCS SD70ACe 4001 (H-P-H from UP), BNSF SD40-2 6814, 6919, 7001, 7014, and BNSF SD75M 8204. (Note: The numbers and models will be constantly changing.).

D&H GP38-2 7304 had its repairs completed in Winnipeg on March 30th, and the locomotive worked its way back east via Chicago, and arrived in Binghamton on April 7th. http://mail.google.com/mail/?attid=0.2&disp=inline&view=att&th=111d42537708cec6

STLH GP9u’s 8205 and 8206 were repainted CP in late March. This leaves only 11 units running with STLH initials: STLH SD40-2’s 5560, 5593, 5615, 5651; GP9u’s 8212, 8223, 8225, 8245, slug 1001; yard GP7u 1502, and yard GP9u 1625.

CP has donated BALDWIN DRS4-4-1000 #8000, built in 1948, to the WEST COAST RAILWAY ASSOCIATION museum at Squamish, BC. During the 1980’s the locomotive was stored in Montreal at Glen Yard, then was moved to Calgary in the 1990’s, where it was stored outside.

On March 6th, CPR announced the retirement of Neal Foot, who was the executive vice-president of operations. His retirement will be effective as of July 1, 2007. Foot’s career with the railway has spanned more than thirty-five years and included a large range of operating and executive positions throughout the company. Brock Winter, who is the railway’s senior vice-president of operations will take over Foot’s duties effective April 3, 2007 after he starts pre-retirement leave.

Early on March 8, eastbound CPR train 104 derailed an AC4400CW and seven cars near mileage 77 of the Heron Bay Subdivision, which is near Coldwell, Ontario. Hulcher crews from White River, Ontario were sent to the derailment scene. The CPR Thunder Bay Auxiliary were on stand-by, but were not dispatched. CPR trains were slowly starting to move over the line by early the following day. The railway has not officially stated the cause of the derailment.

CP Trace locations March 22, 2007 (Courtesy Luc Lanthier) CP SD40-2F’s CP 9000 Arr. Winnipeg,MB March 22 at 12:40am CP 9001 Arr. Saskatoon,SK March 22 at 20:22pm CP 9002 Arr. Cartier,ON March 22 at 19:41pm CP 9003 Arr. Winnipeg,MB March 22 at 20:33pm CP 9004 Dep. Chapleau,ON March 22 at 22:28pm CP 9005 Arr. Glenwood,Mn March 22 at 20:08pm CP 9006 Dep. Emerson,MB March 22 at 13:41pm CP 9007 Dep. Minot,ND March 6 CP 9008 Arr. Minnedosa,MB March 20 CP 9009 Dep. Red Deer,AB March 22 at 14:50pm CP 9010 Arr. Winnipeg,MB March 19 CP 9011 Arr. Sutherland,SK March 22 at 17:08pm CP 9012 Arr. Unknown,ON March 22 at 20:35pm CP 9013 Dep. Moose Jaw,SK March 22 at 04:00am CP 9014 Dep. Calgary,AB March 22 at 19:09pm CP 9015 Arr. Thunder Bay,ON March 22 at 19:25pm CP 9016 Arr. Bredenbury,SK March 22 at 03:58am CP 9017 Arr. Winnipeg,MB March 13 CP 9018 Dep. Woodstock,ON March 22 at 21:41pm CP 9019 Dep. Lachine IMS,Qc March 22 at 20:50pm CP 9020 Dep. Thunder Bay,ON March 22 at 19:38pm CP 9021 Arr. Thunder Bay,ON March 22 at 02:38am CP 9022 Arr. Thief River,Mn March 21 CP 9023 Dep. Mactier,ON March 22 at 20:31pm CP 9024 Arr. Winnipeg,MB March 16

D&H GP38-2’s: DH 7303 Arr. Binghamton,NY March 22 at 05:15am DH 7304 Arr. Winnipeg,MB March 12 CP 7305 Arr. Saratoga Springs,NY March 21 STLH 7306 Dep. Fort Edward,NY March 22 at 11:00am CP 7307 Arr. Albany,NY March 21 STLH 7308 Arr. Saratoga Springs,NY March 19 CP 7309 Arr. Philadelphia,Pa March 16 CP 7310 Dep. Plattsburgh,NY March 22 at 15:00pm CP 7311 Arr. Unioata,NY March 22 at 18:05pm DH 7312 Arr. Fort Edward,NY March 22 at 20:00pm

CP ES44AC’s: CP 8800 Dep. Medicine Hat,AB March 22 at 19:29pm CP 8801 Dep. Unknown,ND March 22 at 21:47pm CP 8802 Arr. Eastport,ID March 22 at 12:23pm CP 8803 Arr. Medicine Hat,AB March 22 at 16:32pm CP 8804 Arr. Mactier,ON March 22 at 22:50pm CP 8805 Dep. Brandon,MB March 22 at 21:14pm CP 8806 Arr. Unknown,Pa March 22 at 01:57am CP 8807 Arr. Sutherland,SK March 22 at 16:55pm CP 8808 Dep. Hankinson,ND March 22 at 20:33pm CP 8809 Arr. St-Paul,Mn March 13 CP 8810 Dep. Mactier,ON March 22 at 20:33am CP 8811 Dep. Medicine Hat,AB March 22 at 19:29pm CP 8812 Arr. Golden,BC March 22 at 19:45pm CP 8813 Dep. Moose Jaw,SK March 22 at 19:35pm CP 8814 Arr. Alyth,AB March 22 at 19:34pm CP 8815 Dep. Wilkie,SK March 22 at 10:35am CP 8816 Arr. Alyth,AB March 22 at 13:46pm CP 8817 Arr. Eastport,ID March 22 at 12:23pm CP 8818 Dep. Cranbrook,BC March 22 at 19:44pm CP 8819 Arr. Ignace,ON March 22 at 22:00pm CP 8820 Arr. Inter.BNSF St-Paul,Mn January 26 CP 8821 Arr. Golden,BC March 22 at 02:08am CP 8822 Arr. Lethbridge,AB March 22 at 14:00pm CP 8823 Arr. Portal,ND March 22 at 15:46pm CP 8824 Arr. Eastport,ID March 20 CP 8825 Dep. Sudbury,ON March 22 at 22:00pm CP 8826 Dep. Chase,BC March 22 at 08:09am CP 8827 Dep. Keith,AB March 21 CP 8828 Dep. New Lisbon,Ws March 22 at 21:40pm CP 8829 Dep. Unknown,BC March 22 at 08:55am CP 8830 Arr. Moose Jaw,SK March 22 at 18:52pm CP 8831 Arr. Winnipeg,MB March 22 at 20:33pm CP 8832 Arr. Saratoga Springs,NY March 22 at 09:07am CP 8833 Arr. Red Wings,Mn March 22 at 08:14am CP 8834 Arr. Dunmore,AB March 22 at 15:05pm CP 8835 Dep. Kennear,ON March 22 at 22:50pm CP 8836 Arr. Calumet Yard,Il March 22 at 05:10am CP 8837 Arr. St-Paul,Mn March 22 at 04:14am CP 8838 Arr. Sutherland,SK March 21 CP 8839 Dep. Bensenville,Il March 22 at 21:29pm

D&H GP38-2’s: DH 7303 Arr. Mechanicville,NY April 5 DH 7304 Arr. Binghamton,NY April 7 at 09:19am CP 7305 Dep. Albany,NY April 7 at 12:02pm STLH 7306 Arr. Fort Edward,NY April 6 CP 7307 Dep. Binghamton,NY April 5 STLH 7308 Arr. Fort Edward,NY April 6 CP 7309 Arr. Binghamton,NY April 6 CP 7310 Dep. Plattsburgh,NY April 6 at 14:40pm CP 7311 Arr. Mechanicville,NY April 5 DH 7312 Arr. Fort Edward,NY April 6 CP SD90MAC-H’s: CP 9300 Arr. Winnipeg,MB February 11 CP 9301 Arr. Portage,MB March 22 at 20:51pm CP 9302 Arr. Kenora,ON March 22 at 21:49pm CP 9303 Arr. Winnipeg,MB March 18.

CP 9300 Arr. Winnipeg,MB February 11 CP 9301 Dep. Winnipeg,MB March 23 at 18:03pm CP 9302 Arr. Thunder Bay,ON March 23 at 18:19pm CP 9303 Arr. Winnipeg,MB March 18.

The ROYAL CANADIAN PACIFIC business train was in , BC, March 18, 2007. The east facing train was backed from Coquitlam to Vancouver Waterfront this afternoon. The train is staffed, but no passengers. As the new F- units are not yet completed, the train consisted of : CP GP38-2 3084 (Tuscan red and grey with script) , CP GP38-2 3049 (Candy apple red with golden beaver) CP 95, Mount Royal, Killarney, Banffshire, N.R. Crump, Strathcona, Van Horne, Royal Wentworth, Craigellachie, and Mount Stephen.

CP SD40-2’s 5794-5797 (All in new paint) inclusive, have been transferred from Moose Jaw to Coquitlam for transfer service out of Coquitlam. The previous Coquitlam-assigned CP SD40-2’s 5712-5715 (All in shabby paint), inclusive will eventually be transferred to Alyth Yard in Calgary. Unit 5714 has already been stored unserviceable at Ogden Shop.

Ex-CP RAIL RSD-17 8921 which resides at the museum n St Thomas, ON., was recently re-painted into grey primer http://railfan.thegrebs.com/CPR/cp8921b

CP’s Three E-8’s 1800-1801-1802: (Bruce Chapman)

CP never owned Alco PA's, but they did have three E-8's, which were bought for the Montreal-Boston service. The Boston and Maine had E-7's on this service, and CP wanted similar units. When the order went in, the E-7's had pretty well run their course, and CP got E-8's from EMD, as GMD in London hadn't been built yet. When this train became serviced with RDC Budd cars, the E-8's were reassigned to passenger service in Eastern Canada. We used them on trains 9-10, a Montreal Quebec-Sudbury Ontario local that connected with Toronto Ontario-Vancouver, British Columbia local trains 5-6. Then they were used on Montreal- Ontario trains 232-233-234-235, and on the Montreal-Quebec City passenger trains. When these trains went to RDC service, the E-8's were used on the “Atlantic Limited”, trains 41/42 from Montreal to Saint John, New Brunswick. CP E8 1801 was in a head-on at Lachevrotiere Quebec towards Quebec City from Montreal on December 28th, 1968. The story goes that the unit could have been repaired for only $5,000, but CP decided against it, at the time trying to rid itself of unprofitable passenger trains. They were overhauled at Ogden in Calgary,. Alberta, and moved back to service in Eastern Canada. Oone of them burned out the main generator in freight service to Edmonton Alberta on a test run, after the crew was not told about its antiquated manual backward transition. VIA bought the units in 1978, and they then became VIA 1800 and 1802. CP went on a rebuilding spree shortly after that on the RS-18's in the 8700-series, and put them in an 1800-number series, which now conflicted with 1800 and 1802. There were 65 remaining RS-18's, so they were numbered 1800-1864, and 1800 and 1802 became 1898 and 1899. They were then used on the VIA 'Canadian' from Montreal to Calgary, but not west of there as they had no dynamic brakes. When their retirement came, many hoped for their survival, but a high official in the hysterical committee of CP said that they were not representative of CP diesel locomotives, and they were cut up at Ogden. The four 1200 horsepower engine blocks out of them lived on in rebuilt SW1200RS switchers 1248 – 1251 inclusive. 1248 was rebuilt into a control cab a couple of years ago.

CP Road Switcher Question: (By Bruce Chapman)

When built, CP had most diesel units equipped with through steam train lines except for the FA1/FA2, FB1/FB2's which were freight only units. I had written about this some time ago, but I'll go and dig up my old diesel book and list the units that had these through steam lines. I dug out the book from 1965, and here is the list of freight steam train-lined units:

FP7A 4028-4040, also with Steam Generator’s; CPA16-4 4052 4053 4056 also with Steam Generator’s; FPA2 4082-4083 4094-4098 also with Steam Generator’s; CPA16-4 4105 also with Steam Generator’s; F7B 4424-4433 4446-4462; Steam train lines only; FPB2 4463-4464 also with Steam Generator’s; CPB16-4 4472 also with Steam Generator; DRS 4-4-1000 8001-8003 also with Steam Generator’s; S-2 8401-8404 also with Steam Generator’s; RS-3 8428-8430 8444 8446 8451-8453 8457-8458 all with steam lines only; RS-10 8462-8482 also with Steam Generator’s; GP9 8501-8529 also with Steam Generator’s; H16-44 8553-8556 also with Steam Generator’s; RS-10 8557-8581 also with Steam Generator’s; RS-10 8582-8594 8596 8598-8600 steam lines only; RS-18 8729-8731 8733-8737 8739-8744 8747-8748 8751 steam lines only; RS-18 8755 8757 8760-8766 8775. with Steam lines only;

While working in the powerful bureau, we would send a 908 and 952 east from Montreal to Saint John daily. However, westward out of Saint John NB, there was usually only a 907 on Monday, so we'd have freight power left over. We'd deadhead it back to Montreal on #41, but we had to let the shops know which units had steam train-lines, as the E-8's didn't make backward transition, and they should be used leading. We had a magnetic board in Montreal's Windsor Station, and we would put a blue dot on all the RS3/10/18's that had steam lines, so we could let Bayshore shop know which units to put on 41. However, whenever a unit was in a derailment or other mishap with the undercarriage, to help themselves out, the shops would often cut off the offending steam line, so often we'd find out the hard way that a unit that should have had them didn't, and St. Luc shops weren't going to spend any money to repair them. One or 2 8700 RS18's ran around for the longest time with a steam conduit on one end, and not on the other.

Update on CP’s new Montreal INTERMODAL YARD: All remaining rolling stock has been removed from SOULANGES INDUSTRIES in Les Cedres, QC. RDC9 6006 was moved to the ORANGVILLE-BRAMPTON RAILWAY during 2006, RDC9 6005 was moved by truck to Pointe-Calumet, QC and will become a snack bar. RDC4 9251, RDC 6002, both lettered DAWX (D.A. Walmsley & Co., plus CN Pointe-St. Charles caboose 79872 have been moved to OTTAWA CENTRAL in , ON for storage.

CORRECTION to last months CRO: I inadvertently deleted "are now off the roster" after “The maroon and grey CEFX SD90-43MAC(U)’s 120 to 139...” in Bruce Chapman’s 2006-2007 CP Diesel Report on the CEFX SD90MACs.

ELECTRO-MOTIVE CANADA COMPANY (By Don McQueen)

Summary of EMCC deliveries during MAR 2007:

With 36 units shipped in March, EMCC appears to be returning to previous levels of production. Sightings, reports and tracings indicated EMCC shipped 23 units from London directly to the customer and 13 to three contract shops. Shipped on flat cars, the last 13 of 28 SD70M (742-746 & 748-755) for Brazil's mining Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (Rio Doce Valley Company), in order 20058767 left for Halifax via GEXR and CN. The KRL flats used were reported in last month's TEMPO Jr. The remaining six of 16 JT42CWR-T1 for FreightLiner (66582-66586 & 66625) in order 20058772 were shipped to Halifax on their own wheels. The first four units (8533-8535 & 8537) in order 20056723 for 100 Union Pacific SD70ACe (8521-8620) left London for UP in Chicago via CN. In the same UP order, another eight (8525-8528, 8531-8532 & 8539-8540) were shipped to Mid-America Car in Kansas City via CN for painting and final testing. A pair (8529 & 8530) went for the same treatment to Wisconsin and Southern Railroad's (WSOR) Horicon facility in Wisconsin. Another three units in the same order (EMDX 3007-3009, to become 8612-8614) 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). UP 8521 & 8522 transferred to ITS-Welland for completion in February, were completed and delivered at month's end.

ITS-Welland also delivered three more of the 14 JT42CWR-M2 for Europe in order 20058725. Green and yellow EU-01 was part of the Freightliner allotment for Poland, and the grey and yellow pair (EU-6 & EU-7) were for CB Rail leases to European customers. They travelled to Halifax with the six Freightliners from London. In a reverse move, the prototype Algerian freight GT36CW, (likely to become SNFT 060DR-01) was returned to the plant at the end of the month. It was returned on the same flat (KRL 89121) used to ship it in primer (with green grills) to the National Railroad Test Center (FAST) at Pueblo in November 2006.

Summary of EMCC deliveries during FEB 2007: Sightings, reports and tracings indicated EMCC shipped 19 units from it’s London, Ontario plant during February, with 9 locomotives going directly to the customer and 10 being sent to two contract shops. Nine SD70M’s, units 734 to 741 and 744, for Brazil’s Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (Rio Doce Valley Company) were shipped on via the Goderich-Exeter Railway and CN to Halifax, Nova Scotia. The first two Union Pacific SD70ACe’s, units 8521 and 8522, were transferred to ITS in Welland, Ontario for completion. UP has 100 SD70ACe’s on order. Also, newly built UP units 8523 and 8524 were shipped to Mid-America Car in Kansas City, Missouri via CN for painting and final testing. Another six diesels in the same order, likely to become UP 8606 to 8611, were shipped as ‘convertibles’ with completed frames and trucks. They were painted gray and their prime movers were shrink- wrapped in white plastic. They are to be completed, painted and tested at the Bombardier facility in Sahagun, Mexico.

The new KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN de MEXICO paint scheme was released on March 20th, 2007. KCSM SD70ACe 4650 was painted by General Electric Transportation Systems (GETS) in San Luis Potosi. A second unit, KCSM 4679, is being painted by Metro East Industries in East St. Louis, Ill. KCS 3997, an SD70ACe, will be the first U.S. unit bearing the new paint scheme. It is also being painted in East St. Louis. The remaining new locomotives will be delivered to KCS' subsidiaries throughout 2007 and 2008.As part of an aggressive capital investment program in the U.S. and Mexico, the KCS subsidiaries have committed to purchase 30 Electro Motive Diesel SD70ACe locomotives and 30 General Electric Transportation System (GETS) ES44AC locomotives. The first 30 ES44ACs were delivered to Kansas City Southern de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V. (KCSM) in primer in December 2006 and January 2007. KCS' subsidiaries have signed letters of intent to purchase an additional 70 locomotives from Electro Motive Diesel and an additional 80 locomotives from GETS, all of which would receive the heritage paint scheme.

KCSM SD70ACe 4650: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=180430

CANADIAN REPAIR SHOPS

Outside the shop at CAD-Montreal (CANADA ALLIED DIESEL) in March/April:

CAD SW1200RS 1993, CAD RS23 2001, RTEX U18B’s 404 & 407, CP SD40-2 5775, CP SD40-2 5583, VIA F40PH 6400 (for tweaking), US ARMY GP10 1876, VIA P42 915, CN C44-9W 2602, repaired following rolling down a bank in BC in 2005 (with CN 2434), and in brand new paint http://tinyurl.com/2uhtnf , CN SW1200RSm 7304 dead, CN SD40-2W 5249, LLPX GP15-1 1509 (from the CHARLEVOIX), BNSF RP20BD 1402.and former AMT commuter coach 807. Correction: I have been informed that it is actually Canada (not Canadian) Allied Diesel. www.cadiesel.com.

To ensure they remain in service over the next 20 years, SASKATCHEWAN GRAIN CAR CORPORATION (SGCC) has begun refurbishing 100 cylindrical grain hoppers built for the Saskatchewan Government in the 1980’s that were painted orange and brown, and have looked very shabby of late. The new attractive cars are painted green with “Saskatchewan" in large white letters with an orange tiger lily (The Provincial flower) at one end. Decals include a golden yellow stripe representing the wheat and canola fields of Saskatchewan. Highball Graphics has already come out with the new HO scale decals for this grain hopper See the new cars: http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=667b85cc-d7f7-4e59-99be-d76561cfc860

CANADIAN SHORTLINES, REGIONALS & INDUSTRIALS

The seven QNS&L units from Mon Joli, QC have been finally shipped via CN under J&L Consulting JLCX initials (Consignee Jabco Industrial Services). to Chicago Heights, IL. These units are SD40-2’s 259, 261, SD40-2CLC’s 303-306, and 308. It is suspected they are going for scrap because J&L Consulting typically scraps units.

It was determined in March that the chemin de fer QUEBEC CENTRAL’s Levis and Valley subdivisions will likely be sold to a new . The rest of the QCRR will likely be ripped up. It is not known what will happen to the remaining equipment.

On March 23rd, WINDSOR & HANTSPORT (WHRC) RS-23 8036 went to New Minas with one of the ex-CN GP9RM's. It brought about 16 cars back to Windsor. WHRC has only one ex-CP RS-23 left on the roster (no. 8036), which is due to be scrapped as soon as a replacement locomotive can be obtained. It is normally used on the dumper at Hantsport but is currently roaming. Four ex-CN GP9RM’s 4011, 4012, 4013 & 4014 - all on lease from (Cando Contracting), and are lettered CEMR. Only GP9RM 4012 has been repainted into the two tone grey livery.

In late March NEW BRUNSWICK EAST COAST (NBEC) RS18u 1821 was released from CAD, and sent back to the NBEC via CN. The locomotive still sports CP RAIL paint with NBEC lettering. Three NBEC RS18u’s have been cycled through OTTAWACENTRAL Railway’s Walkley Yard in Ottawa, Ontario for on- line testing after being repaired at Canada Allied Diesel (CAD) in Lachine, Quebec. The unit’s include; NBEC 1819, 1851 and 1854. Eventually, RS18u 1819 departed Ottawa for NBEC home rails on March 7 and 1851 left on March 12. NBEC RS18u 1854 arrived on the OCRR for testing on March 11. Also, NBEC RS18u 1859 was out of service awaiting a new engine block.

A Bombardier double-decker control cab car built for NJ Transit was received at the interchange in Pembroke, Ontario on March 10 by the . The car was immediately taken to the National Research Council Centre for Surface Transportation Technology test labs in Ottawa, Ontario by OCRR. The car was traveling with reporting marks BBRX 7003. Billed to the MONTREAL MAINE & ATLANTIC, in Derby, ME, two former KCS units SD40-2’s 653 and 625 (ex-SD45) were hauled east dead mid-train via CP from Chicago to Toronto on April 6th and through Montreal on the 10th. Ex-KCS SD40-2 663 is expected to follow from Bensonville. (Photo’s Paul Cordingley) http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j131/bigsmokemofo/KCSDeadObicoApr62007.jpg http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j131/bigsmokemofo/KCS653DeadatObico.jpg

In early March, Railway (SOR) GP9u 1755 returned to SOR’s Stuart Street Yard in Hamilton, Ontario. The locomotive had been sent to Lambton Diesel Services in Sarnia, Ontario during September 2006 to have its frame straightened. This was after the unit’s frame was bent in a low speed collision while switching cars in the , Ontario yard on April 9, 2006. However as of mid-March, 1755’s windows were still boarded-up and it’s unknown if the unit was actually repaired or just sent back to Hamilton in the same condition as before. SOR GP35 5005 and GP7u 1756 were in the consist during the accident, and also received damage to their frames.

As of early March, GODERICH-EXETER (GEXR) FP9u 1401 was out of service with main generator problems, while sister FP9u 1400 was active, but was working without a compressor. GEXR GP40 4046 had been out of service due to mechanical ailments, but returned to service in mid-March. Also, leased LLPX GP38-2 2236 was in the Goderich shop receiving repairs to it’s fuel tank after it was ruptured in an incident in Guelph, Ontario during the early part of March. As well, leased CEFX GP38-3 6537 was still stored unserviceable at Goderich, Ontario.

In the early morning hours of March 5, GODERICH-EXTER train 433 became snowbound on the GEXR Guelph Subdivision near mileage 107. This location is west of Kelly’s Ontario. The three units had just lifted 54 cars in London and were attempting to bring them to the yard at Stratford when the train encountered heavy drifting and became stuck. Prior to the incident, the area had been hammered with severe winter weather for several days. Train 433’s consist included GEXR GP40’s 4019, 4096 and GP38 3856. Later that morning, Stratford-based local 516 was dispatched with a three-man crew to help drag 432 back to Stratford with LLPX GP38-2 2236. This crew spent several hours digging 433’s power out of the heavy snow and managed to haul 14 of the 54 cars back to Stratford. However, the GEXR mainline was still blocked with the other 40 cars that remained at mileage 107. Also that day, an outside contractor and a GEXR foreman were attempting to clear the Stratford to Kelly’s section utilizing a tractor-blower. The 40 cars were eventually retrieved on the morning of March 6 after the line was cleared. But before the subdivision was re-opened, VIA Rail had to re-route some of their Guelph Subdivision passenger trains on the CN Dundas Subdivision to reach London, while others were cancelled. Due to more severe winter weather that closed roads, VIA couldn’t bus passengers between London and Toronto as an option. As well VIA train 85 from Toronto was terminated at Kitchener, instead of continuing to Stratford, and returned to Toronto as train 86. Also by early March, both of GEXR’s snowplows had been sidelined with mechanical problems. One of the plows had been involved in a derailment in the town of Seaforth, Ontario on the railway’s Goderich Subdivision.

Then during the night of March 6, LLPX GP38-2 2236 derailed around mileage 1 on the Waterloo Spur. This line runs 11 miles between Kitchener and Elmira, Ontario. The unit was operating GEXR train 584 through Waterloo when ice in the flange- ways caused the GP38-2 to derail near the Roger Street crossing. This was the first 584 to traverse the line after several days of bad winter weather. The next day, crews were able to re-rail 2236 and GEXR GP38AC 3835 was sent to retrieve the unit and haul it back to Kitchener. Later that evening, train 584 attempted to take several tank cars to Elmira using 3835, however the unit encountered the same problem with icy flange-ways and derailed at the Moore Avenue crossing in Waterloo. Ironically, this is the next crossing up from the Roger Street derailment the day prior.

Former CP SD40-2 5644, retired in 2005, has been released from NRE in Capreol, ON, and has been leased to the ATHABASKA NORTHERN in Northern Alberta.

In a surprise development, St. Thomas, Ontario council announced its financial support for a bid by their local railway groups to buy the Canada Southern right-of- way (CASO Subdivision). Both CN and own the line and they are in the process of abandoning it. Council unanimously approved the utilization of uncommitted capital funds (approximately $65,000). This will support the Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society (SOLRS) in establishing the net salvage value of the remaining CASO Subdivision, which consists of only four miles of track. The railways have established the salvage value at approximately $2.1 million and SOLRS, which represents the city’s railway groups, is trying to obtain an independent appraised value as it negotiates the buying price of the remaining CASO trackage in St. Thomas. In its abandonment application under the Canada Transportation Act, CN intends to discontinue service on four miles of downtown trackage. CN started the discontinuance process during April 2005 and the process takes 18 months to complete. Interested parties who wanted to acquire the line for continued use had until June 30, 2006 to file their intentions. If no agreement had been obtained, the CASO Subdivision was to be offered to the federal, provincial and municipal governments at the net salvage value of the rails. CN is trying to sell 32 hectares (80 acres) of property in the corridor to make way for residential development. SOLRS has been in talks with CN for nearly a year and is now attempting to get a ruling from the Canadian Transportation Agency to ensure CN does not move on to the next step of the discontinuance procedure until those discussions have been finished. Spokesman John Peart said to the Times- Journal newspaper that he is optimistic negotiations will continue. However, Peart also said that the local railway groups have run into stiff opposition from CN. “We believe the process can not move along to the next stage, but that will be a ruling of the Canadian Transportation Agency,” he said. “But CN is objecting all along the way because they would like to get through this as quickly as possible.” Peart wants to ensure that SOLRS and the Elgin County Railway Museum still have their connection and don’t become landlocked. Both the museum and SOLRS have collections of locomotives and rolling stock.

In March, ONTARIO SOUTHLAND Railway RS-18u 183 was in OSR’s Salford, Ontario shop undergoing a turbocharger replacement.

During the winter, ST THOMAS & EASTERN Railway’s HR-412(W) 3582 suffered a turbo charger failure. The railway utilized ONTARIO SOUTHLAND Railway motive power to fill-in until 3582 could be repaired. The ST&E services customers between St. Thomas and Delhi, Ontario on the former CN Cayuga Subdivision.

Fortress Investment Group has purchased RAILAMERICA for more than $1.1 billion US. The purchase indicates that they cleared regulatory, shareholder and other conditions. The sale also includes RAILAMERICA’s Canadian shortlines, GODERICH-EXETER Railway, OTTAWA VALLEY Railway, and the CAPE BRETON & CENTRAL . COMMUTER LINES AND VIA RAIL

GO TRANSIT:

CORRECTION to last months issue. GO Transit is not receiving MP36's – They will be getting the 4000 HP MP40PH-3C. This is the first time that this model is being produced. It uses an EMD 710G3C prime mover combined with their EM2000 control system -- both firsts for the MPXpress locomotive line. The MP36 normally contains a 3600 HP 645F prime mover with a control system from Wabtec (Wabtec owns Motive Power). The GO units are expected to be numbered 600-626, and we understand the first MP40PH-3 is under test. (Thanks to Sean Graham- White).

AMT:

Photo of AMT’s newest F40PH no. 400 http://tinyurl.com/2x33xg or the fleet at http://www.myrailfan.com/collection/AMT/index_AMT.htm and click on the 400.

VIA:

VIA train #60 approaching its stop at Guildwood, ON, with an exceptionally clean consist of F40PH 6437, HEP-1 ex-UP baggage, HEP-2 club, 5 HEP-2 coaches. http://tinyurl.com/yuj8uw

VIA P42DC 917 is currently out of service at MMC with what looks like fire damage. Photo Marc Chouinard: http://tinyurl.com/24srta

VIA RDC #6135 from Vancouver Island was moved to IRSI in Moncton, NB with fire damage.

VIA train #2 The Canadian” including with dead head cars in consist at Vancouver, BC, on April 6, 2007: VIA F40PH-2 6433, VIA F40PH-2 6420, Coach 8101 d/h, Evangeline Park d/h, Brant Manor d/h, Douglas Manor d/h, Blair Manor d/h, Grant Manor d/h, Craig Manor d/h, Dawson Manor d/h, Baggage 8609, Coach 8108, Coach 8122, Skyline 8509, Diner Emerald, Draper Manor, Allan Manor, Wolfe Manor, and Tremblant Park

The official VIA colours on the 900-series P42DC’s and F40PH 6400 is “Pantone 316” and “Cheezoom Teal”. Here are the colours side by side: http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/7310/colorsvianf5.png

The Canadian Transportation Agency has requested Via Rail make Renaissance coaches more accessible to their handicapped riders, specifically for persons needing wheel chairs. VIA has replied that while some minor modifications may be possible, it would be far too expensive to make the changes requested to the fleet which were built to smaller European standards. However a recent CTV news story suggests that it could be done without increasing fares.

CANADIAN RAILWAY HISTORY

To assist in the fundraising, to obtain a newsletter or for museum news:

WEST COAST RAILWAY ASSOC – WCRA: www.wcra.org KALOOPS 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 BYTOWN RAILWAY SOCIETY http://www.bytownrailwaysociety.ca/about.htm ELGIN COUNTY RAILWAY MUSEUM in St. Thomas, ON: www.ecrm5700.org SOUTHERN ONTARIO LOCOMOTIVE RESTORATION SOCIETY: www.steam-train.org TORONTO RAILWAY HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION: The Toronto Railway Historical Association is pleased to announce the inauguration of its new website at: http://www.trha.ca At present, the site is devoted mostly to the activities of the TRHA and the plans for the Toronto Railway Heritage Centre (a.k.a. Toronto Railway Museum) but there is plenty to see for those who are just interested in Toronto railway history. Besides CANDIAN NATIONAL RAILWAYS No. 6213, there are two passenger cars currently stored in the roundhouse, former CP Cape Race and former CP tourist sleeper Jackman.

Support for Roundhouse Site in Victoria, BC, Canada

Victoria, BC’s BayViews Roundhouse Web Site, needs feedback for support of a rail museum on site. Send your comments in, and let them know that the Roundhouse needs to be kept railway oriented, not commercial, with markets, breweries, etc. This Roundhouse is the only known one in Canada, to be fully intact and operational with turntable, and the Via Rail Buidd cars are still serviced here in Victoria. BayViews link: http://www.roundhousevictoria.com/about_roundhouse/index.htm Support the E&N Division,Canadian Railroad Historical Association http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/roundhousemuseumproject

Montreal Railroad Modelers Association: (CLOSED UNTIL LATE MAY) 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 A small donation would assist us in our efforts. [email protected] www.canadacentral.org

SOUTH OF THE BORDER

Three of the four new NORFORLK SOUTHERN Executive F-units were released from Altoona Shop in March and are currently going through test runs. NS Executive F Unit 4270 with the two B units 4275 and 4276, and two rebuilt GP38-2’s 5647 and 5648. The Geeps went along to give dynamic braking to simulate a load behind the F units. The second F-unit will be numbered 4271. http://www.railfanusa.com/pics/ebay/dsc_1495.jpg http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=181486

Several of the 13 former CP SD40-2’s and two ex-BC RAIL B36-7’s sold to PROGRESS RAIL in December 2006, can be seen lined up with other locomotives in the scraplines in early April at PROGRESS RAIL in Waycross, Georgia. http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=182357 New world Railway High-Speed record: CBC News - Tuesday, April 3, 2007 | 9:28 AM ET (Photo here and video below) http://mail.google.com/mail/?attid=0.2&disp=inline&view=att&th=111be62a37207e3e A French high-speed TGV train broke the world record for conventional trains on Tuesday, reaching speeds up to 574 km/h. At that speed, people watching by the side of the tracks barely saw the train go by, said CBC journalist David Commons, reporting from the Champagne-Ardennes train station near Reims. The black-and-chrome train with three double-decker cars, named the V150, bettered the previous record of 515.3 km/h. That record, set in 1990, is also held by a French train. Still, the new speed falls short of the ultimate record set by Japan's magnetically levitated train, which reached 581 km/h in 2003. On Tuesday, the French train hurtled down a stretch of a new line linking Paris to eastern France at about the speed of a short-distance freight propeller plane. The train used in Tuesday's experiment ≈ a TGV, short for "train a grande vitesse," as France's bullet trains are called ≈ has larger wheels than the usual TGV to cover more ground with each rotation. It also has a stronger, 25,000-horsepower engine. The double-decker cars were transformed into a laboratory for the event so that technicians from the state-run rail company SNCF and Alstom, which makes the fast trains, could gather data during the run, according to the Associated Press. Test data should help improve the security and comfort of passengers in the future. http://www.record2007.com/site/index_en.php http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7NuK_NaO7A&mode=related&search

Letters: Hi William,

Thanks for the latest issue but a couple of corrections, but I had nothing to do with the D&H unit photo’s ... Also in this issue: Walter Pfefferle caught CN GP9RM 4125 and a CN GMD1u on the GODERICH-EXETER Railway’s Thorndale Sub on March 6th. http://railfan.thegrebs.com/CN/cn4125a Photo was actually taken on the CN/CP connecting track in Ingersoll. George Roth and I are having a discussion if it was actually part of the CP St Mary’s sub. As well, would it be possible to get our web page www.steam-train.org added to history section. We plan to run this year and our latest newsletter is available online.

Thanks

Walter Pfefferle Ingersoll Ontario Proud Supporter of the St Thomas Central Railway http://steam-train.org

Walter has provided CRO with these images of the former shops and tracks around CASO in St Thomas, ON in late March. Many tracks have been removed and only the ladder track, with its stubs of switches remain, as well as the track to the transfer table. http://railfan.thegrebs.com/CASO-St-Thomas-March-20%2C-2007

The newest edition of the Canadian Trackside Guide 2007 and its annual compendium of information on train schedules, routes, cabooses, engines and preserved equipment has arrived in the Maritimes. If you are interested in a copy of this 800 page book please contact me off-line. Geoff Doane has a picture of the Sydney Railway on the rear cover! Bill Linley [email protected]

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: Extra thanks to Bruce Chapman***, Guilio Capuano, David Cenci, Marc Chouinard, Mark Forseille, Tony Fusco, and the employees of St-Luc Diesel, Eric Gagnon, John Godfrey, GR17f, Bill Linley, Ken Lanovich, Luc Lanthier, Roman Litarchuk, Don McQueen, Bill Miller, Bruce Mercer, Jason Noe, David Othen, Walter Pfefferle, Alex Roberts, Earl Roberts, Jason Shron, Ed Van Pelt, Barry Williams, Joe Zika, Branchline, Tempo Jr, BLHS, WCRA, the Canadian Trackside Guide, The CBC, 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.) EXPECT NEXT ISSUE Mid-MAY