Updated 02/18/08 www.canadianrailwayobservations.com CANADIAN NATIONAL CN Locomotives retired since last issue: BCOL RS3 Slug 406 on January 24th (The last one on the CN roster) DMIR SD38AC 207 on January 27th DMIR SD38 223 on January 27th BCOL RS18CATm 617 on February 5th (Only two left on the roister) GTW GP9R 4614 on February 11th The last Alco’s operating on CN: We were hoping to showcase the final four BC RAIL Alco’s operating on CN, however just before press time, two more were retired! At press time, the final two BCOL RS18CATm`s still operating on CN are 629, and 630, with 617 retired in early February. As well, the last BCOL RS3 Slug operating on CN was no. 406 which was also retired in January. All of these units were assigned to Prince George, BC. (Their individual history follows) http://www.canadianrailwayobservations.com/2008/3/bcr.htm BCR Slug #406,was built from former RS-3 #567 back in March 1985. In the photo submitted, the BCR S-406 was switching with the BCR RS-18CATm under the Lions Gate Bridge back in November 1993. BCR RS-18CATm # 617 was rebuilt in 1990. In this photo, she is parked near the Prince George Yard Office with another RS-18 Cat awaiting it's next switching assignment. BCR RS-18CATm # 629 was rebuilt in 1994. Here she is parked in a set with along with a pair of former Santa Fe B36-7's #'s 7492 & 3610 (Ex-ATSF 7493) for wayfreight service. This set would usually meet another train from Fort St. John, BC at Septimus and exchange trains. It was common for some of the RS-18CATm used on shorter trips mostly wayfreights. BCR RS-18CATm # 630. This is the only RS-18CATm to be painted in the blue and silver paint scheme. The 630 and 601 were the only two RS-18CATm not painted in the red, White and Blue paint scheme. The 601 was painted in the Pacific Starlight Dinner Train scheme. The 630 was the last of the RS-18's to be converted in 1999. In this photo, the 630 is mated with one of the slug units to switch the yard in Prince George, BC. The 630 was also one of the first BCR units fitted for use with a Beltpack (Four BC RAIL photos above by Mark Forseille). On February 5th CN began cutting up retired BCR RS18CAT 621 at Woodcrest shop. In Homewood, Illinois. Also during the month of February at the Woodcrest Shop in Homewood, Illinois, CN had scrapped IC SW14`s 1493, 1494 and 1508. CN GMD1m 1436, DMIR SD40-3 419, and WC SD45 7637. In late January, BCOL SD40-2 743 (A former ONEIDA & WESTERN unit) was at NRE in Dixmoor, Illinois for overhaul, and to be equipped to become a US leader. These RCL cab lettered SD40-2's were equipped with Locotrol. CRO has confirmed that the unit was released from NRE in early-February still in the BC RAIL red, white and blue colour scheme and still sports its original BCR Leslie 5 chime horn and its mars light. If it had been painted, this unit would have been the first former BCOL unit to receive CN livery. http://csxchicago.gotdns.com:6003/CN_Trains/Roll74/0014028-R1-070-33A.jpg http://trainiax.net/photos/bc/lphotobc-2004-08-07-743.jpg Further to last months photo of the freshly painted and retired GTW GP38: In late January there were five ex-GTW GP38’s 4994, 4995, 4996, 4997, and 4998 at the Woodcrest shop in Homewood, Illinois. Three of these: 4994. 4995, and 4996 were recently repainted and then retired, and then sold. They have been re-lettered on the cab sides for their new owner, RTEX (Rail Trust Equipment), which is a leasing company. The CN noodles appear to have been painted over on the nose but the large CN on the flanks remain, at least in these photos, http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=220882 The following 22 units were were sold to PRLX (a division of PROGREASS RAIL) at Woodcrest shop in February: DMIR SD38 209, SD40-3 418, WC GP40 3005, CN GP9RM’s 4012, 4014, 4109 4117; GTW GP9R’s 4609, 4615, 4617, 4627, 4631; CN SD40-2W’s 5243, 5255, 5282, 5333, 5344; CN GP9RM’s 7003, 7048, 7205; CN GP40-2W’s 9669, and 9670. In early February, retired CN SW1200RS 7301 (built as CNR 1393 in 1960), is seen hauling out a group of locomotives recently sold to LTEX (Larry’s Truck Electric) (Ken Lanovitch). http://csxchicago.gotdns.com:6003/CN_Trains/Roll74/0014028-R1-042-19A.jpg Here is a January 2008 photo taken by Jim Thias in Homewood, Illinois showing a long deadline of CN GP9RM`s including 7003 which was retired on September 11th 2007. It was one of the first CN GP9RM`s rebuilt in Montreal Point St-Charles Shop in 1981, and was recently added to this deadline. Very soon after this photo was taken the Geep next to it (ex-CN GP9RM PRSX 7056), was moved in January to Waycross, GA. http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=221828 Tim Stevens impressive image of CN ES44DC 2240 and BCOL DASH 8-40CM 4622 lead CN Q111 into Jasper, Alberta on October 30, 2007. http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=221294&nseq=0 Ron Visockis caught this handsome trio rolling through Belleville, Ontario on February 14th with CN SD70M-2 8800 leading two sisters eastbound. http://www.canadianrailwayobservations.com/2008/3/CN8800.jpg CN Train 119 was photographed by Glen Mounk on February 3rd with a colourful consist of CN- IC- CN units at Pitcher's Point, just west of the bridge at Ranier, Ontario. http://www.canadianrailwayobservations.com/2008/3/2723.jpg Damaged CN SD70M-2 8835 was forwarded to ITS in early February for repairs following some minor fire damage. Ron Visockis clicked these images of brand new CN SD70M-2 8841 at Belleville, ON. http://www.canadianrailwayobservations.com/2008/3/ron1.jpg http://www.canadianrailwayobservations.com/2008/3/ron2.jpg While CN’s SD70M-2’s are assigned to the eastern end of the system they do get around, Last months issue of CRO had one west of Edmonton and here is an example showing Terry Redeker shots of CN SD70M-2 8822 in the south at Johnson Yard in Memphis, Tennessee in January. http://tkredeker.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1035788 http://tkredeker.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1035787 http://tkredeker.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1035801 http://tkredeker.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=103578 Recent CN repaints include GTW GP9R 4626 fresh out of Woodcrest in CN colours,in Mid February and GP38-2 4902 next up for painting, and GP38-2 4901 was released in early February. On January 29th, 2008 CN announced to their customers that due to the extreme cold and wind conditions, CN had to temporarily reduce freight service in most areas of Western Canada. The modified freight operations continued for about two days. Joseph Zika’s CN - MacMillan Yard Report: First off, I have a better shot of the nose of AARX 316 coupled to TZPR 715. Note the mismatch in frame heights of the TZPR unit on the left riding on Flexi-coil trucks compared to AARX 316 riding on the older style AAR type switcher trucks. As luck would have it, and as promised the export units were still in town as well, much to my surprise, they managed to clear out the west side of the receiving yard giving a clear view of the entire trainload of units, From what we have gathered so far, the new Indonesian Railway (PJKA) London-built units on flat cars are called GT26M-2’s, however we have also seen them referred to as GT26MC-2`s. The Euro Cargo Rail ( France ) units are called JT42's, however i have also seen them referred to as JT42CWRM and class 66's. The international train consist is as follows: departing MacMillan Yard and heading to Halifax, Nova Scotia as per the waybills. The train originated at London, Ont. and shipper and consignee is Electro-Motive Canada. http://www.canadianrailwayobservations.com/2008/3/joe.htm CNIS 621251 loaded with CC20.244 CNIS 621234 loaded with CC20.241 CNIS 621131 loaded with CC20.247 CNIS 621211 loaded with CC20.248 CNIS 621157 loaded with CC20.243 EMDX 11002 coupler mate/idler flat car ECR 77001 - ECR 77002 - ECR 77010 EMDX 11001 coupler mate/idler flat car. Several run through locomotives from BNSF, UP and NS have been seen in Toronto Yard over the last month. Ongoing power struggles on the GTW have again resurfaced, as there are attempts again at shutting down Battle Creek, outsourcing the yard work and block swaps to other adjacent CN terminals resulting in entire trains held back due to congestion. The cold has also been a major player with CN forced to park all traffic for 36 hours. On Saturday, Feb 2nd 2008, I was able to get shots of another MITTEL STEEL SW1500 AARX 316 as well as NREX 5591 (former CP SD40-2 5590). I brought the wrong body with the shorter wide lens, which would explain why IC SD70 1017 looks a little stretched out and long, taken on Feb 2nd. Also, AARX 316 is going to INDUSTRIAL RAIL SERVICES in Moncton, New Brunswick, same as the other three (303, 304 and 310) previous units have gone. Here's a thread to a shot of AARX 303 that i missed last week on Train 308.