Last Operation of M-636 and C-630M on CN?

[PRR8259]

Hi folks--

I'm wondering if any of you can help me out with the date(s) and details of the last runs in revenue service of MLW M-636's and C-630M's on CN?

There is a video on YouTube that shows 2335 in operation as the Moncton shop switcher in October of 1996...A number of dead MLW's are visible in the background at that time, and it is likely that may have been the last assignment for 2335 before the dead line.

Perhaps somebody knows more?

Thank you all--

John

[SD70Dude]

The CNRHA site has some good info including specific retirement dates for some of the locomotives.  Of course, the locomotives were likely stored for some time before being officially retired and removed from the fleet.

http://cnrha.ca/node/152

I still think it's a shame that HR616 2119 was not preserved, not only was it the last new locomotive built by MLW, it was also the first locomotive built with a desktop control stand.

[M636C]

Can anyone explain why CN had only C-630Ms while CP appear to have had both C-630M and M-630 types?

Peter

[PRR8259]

You are correct.  Actually, CP had C-630M's, M-630's, M-636's and the M-640. 

It appears, for whatever reason, that CN just skipped over the M-630 model and went straight to the M-636. 

Withers Publishing has an excellent book that covers the variations (the second Alco Century volume) which I have read but do not currently have.  I also just received the CN Diesels Vol 2 book, which is a great book.

According to the CN book, Alco had officially ended production of the C-630 in the U.S. by the time the C-630M was introduced.  The M is supposed to be a reference to both construction by MLW and the fact that it had a new, modified 6-axle hi-adhesion truck (the Dofasco truck).  This was the shortest wheelbase 6-axle truck ever built. CP had 8 units (4500-4507).  CN had 2000-2043.  As built they looked very much like the south of the (Canadian) border ordinary Alco C-630, except for some Canadian details and of course the Dofasco trucks.  Air filter arrangements were modified in later years, which confuses everybody because with those changes they take on a distinctly different appearance from the standard Alco C-630.  These units are often misidentified in photo captions as M-630's but that is not correct.

The C-630I is an interim model designation, prior to the introduction of the M-630 which included upgrades from the Century Series.  It covers four units built for Pacific Great Eastern that had a different aftercooler arrangement behind the cab than all previous C-630's and C-630M's possessed as originally built.  

The M-630 came along next, offering several upgrades over the Century Series that changed the appearance of the carbody (plus Canadian pilots were different).  The first CP unit was 4508.

The M-636 is an upgraded MLW model that also offered different air filtration etc. than was on the original (few US-built) Alco C-636's.  

The M-640 was a one off with an 18 cylinder 4000 horsepower engine. 

Lineage gets confusing as these engines have floated between American, Canadian, and Mexican railroads, with Alco C-636's and MLW M-636's migrating from both the U.S. and Canada to the Cartier Railway...former PGE and British Columbia units have migrated to Mexico...and an entire fleet of MLW's was also constructed in/for Australia.  Additionally, several Mexican railroads purchased them brand new.  Four axle Centuries got everywhere, too.

John