CN E Units

[Anonymous]

I just got back from a trip to Regina, Sask. today. On the way to Regina I go through Melville, which has a large CN yard. This morning I just happened to be at the right place at the right time. There was a frieght that was headed west and it stopped in Melville to pick up some cars. I was quite surprised to find coupled behind the two modern units pulling the train an A-A set of either E7's or E8's painted in CN's old green, black and yellow paint scheme, Nos. 102 and 103. (CN got rid of this paint scheme in favor of the black, white and red in 1961.) I know that CP has F7's painted in their old grey and maroon paint scheme for their Royal Canadian Pacific excursion service, but I was not aware of CN restoring first generation diesels of theirs. Perhaps CN is planning to have a simmilar train to compete with CP? Does anyone know about these? Being a big fan of first generation diesels, this was quite a thrill for me to see.

[Anonymous]

I just got back from a trip to Regina, Sask. today. On the way to Regina I go through Melville, which has a large CN yard. This morning I just happened to be at the right place at the right time. There was a frieght that was headed west and it stopped in Melville to pick up some cars. I was quite surprised to find coupled behind the two modern units pulling the train an A-A set of either E7's or E8's painted in CN's old green, black and yellow paint scheme, Nos. 102 and 103. (CN got rid of this paint scheme in favor of the black, white and red in 1961.) I know that CP has F7's painted in their old grey and maroon paint scheme for their Royal Canadian Pacific excursion service, but I was not aware of CN restoring first generation diesels of theirs. Perhaps CN is planning to have a simmilar train to compete with CP? Does anyone know about these? Being a big fan of first generation diesels, this was quite a thrill for me to see.

[Anonymous]

The E9's that you saw were two of four that the Illinois Central picked up about 5-7 years back. The other two are painted in IC "Panama Limited" paint scheme, and used on business and shipper specials. All four became CN property in the merger of the two roads.
IIRC, they are ex-BN commuter units that were used around Chicago.
HTH[8D]

[Anonymous]

The E9's that you saw were two of four that the Illinois Central picked up about 5-7 years back. The other two are painted in IC "Panama Limited" paint scheme, and used on business and shipper specials. All four became CN property in the merger of the two roads.
IIRC, they are ex-BN commuter units that were used around Chicago.
HTH[8D]

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info. Jim! I was familiar with the ex-BN E9's that worked for Metra, but never knew what happened to them.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info. Jim! I was familiar with the ex-BN E9's that worked for Metra, but never knew what happened to them.