SD70Dude The project continues, look what else just rolled out of the paint shop: https://www.flickr.com/photos/58344402@N04/50444700963/
The project continues, look what else just rolled out of the paint shop:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/58344402@N04/50444700963/
Looks very sharp.
Leo_Ames I thought I read on Loconotes when the news first surfaced that the plan involved a bigger total of heritage units for CN. Something like 12 units, as I recall. Edit: 18 units in total was what was floating around recently. https://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2020/10/13-cn-heritage-locomotives-sighted-but-company-wont-comment
I thought I read on Loconotes when the news first surfaced that the plan involved a bigger total of heritage units for CN. Something like 12 units, as I recall.
Edit: 18 units in total was what was floating around recently.
https://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2020/10/13-cn-heritage-locomotives-sighted-but-company-wont-comment
Which was NEVER reliably sourced, and the "list" of the 18 that was circulated around was suspiciously identical to some artwork of fantasy heritage units done by a railfan several years ago so I always took that with a grain of salt...
On the other hand, who knows how many of these GP40-3 + slug sets they're doing...?
Chris van der Heide
My Algoma Central Railway Modeling Blog
UP ended up doing 6, if I remember correctly - SP, CNW, M-K-T, Mopac, Western Pacific and Rio Grande.
KBCpresident When I started this post, CN doing heritage units was hypothetical, but so far there is an unofficial portrait of at least 5. https://railpictures.net/photo/754510 Noticeably missing from this lineup is the DM&IR and B&LE. Others as well, (I recently read about a Slave Lake line that apparently had a Yellow/Orange scheme that I would like to see on a big diesel. but these are the two I would expect them to do that they haven't. They are being incredibly mysterious about it: any idea why? Pictures of the heritage units they have so far are surprisingly rare...
When I started this post, CN doing heritage units was hypothetical, but so far there is an unofficial portrait of at least 5.
https://railpictures.net/photo/754510
Noticeably missing from this lineup is the DM&IR and B&LE. Others as well, (I recently read about a Slave Lake line that apparently had a Yellow/Orange scheme that I would like to see on a big diesel. but these are the two I would expect them to do that they haven't. They are being incredibly mysterious about it: any idea why? Pictures of the heritage units they have so far are surprisingly rare...
Word is it's only these 5 they're doing. Those two yard sets are out there somewhere as well.
10000 feet and no dynamics? Today is going to be a good day ...
KBCpresident They are being incredibly mysterious about it: any idea why? Pictures of the heritage units they have so far are surprisingly rare...
They are being incredibly mysterious about it: any idea why? Pictures of the heritage units they have so far are surprisingly rare...
Because they only officially unveiled them publicly on the 17th?
The Beaverton, Fanno Creek & Bull Mountain Railroad
"Ruby Line Service"
I can't lie CN's old olive green is a handsome paint scheme. If only cost scrutiny of paint didn't exist. I would like to see this paint scheme revived with a modern touch.
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
A matching mother unit has been spotted as well. This photo is copied and pasted from a private Facebook group, so the photo won't last here forever.
Most large yards and terminals have spurs and/or areas ("industrial zones" is the term used on CN out here) with tight curves and 'light' track that 6 axle units cannot negotiate. As Balt said, while most of the Class I's seem to be doing their best to discourage this type of carload traffic, the fact is that 4 axle units are still required to work them, and probably will be for many years to come.
6 axle units cannot operate on some branchlines for the same reasons, as well as being too heavy for some bridges. Even though their axle loading is the same or less than a comparable 4 axle unit, in total a 6 axle unit weighs about 60 tons more (GP40 vs SD40 comparison).
The 6 axle yard service units on CN are assigned to hump and heavy switching service, where their extra traction and braking effort is best utilized, and all the tracks are accessible to 6 axle power anyway (road units use the same leads and tracks to get to their trains).
However, a 1800-2000 HP GP9RM or GP38-2 mother-slug pair will out-pull and out-brake any individual 6 axle unit at low speeds, as it weighs more and has two more traction motors. And the mother-slug pair can go anywhere a regular 4 axle unit can.
adkrr64Is there anything about 6 axle units that make them inherently unsuited to yard work?
The wheelbase of the truck in a 6 axle is longer than on 4 axles. Six axles require a larger curve radius than do 4 axles.
With carriers doing their 'best' to eliminate loose car railroading and the servicing of one and two car per day customers the 'need' for 4 axle locomotives is diminishing. Customer sidings to serve their loading dock in many cases were constructed with very tight curves and light rail and they are for the most part poorly maintined with bad tie conditions.
Switching in the carriers yards benefits from 6 axle engines being able to handle heavier tonnage switching cuts than 4 axle engines. Switching in the carrier's yards is not all that it takes to run a railroad.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Is there anything about 6 axle units that make them inherently unsuited to yard work?
SD70Dude SD60MAC9500 SD70Dude, Sounds like you guys are really short on 4 axle power. What happened? Age, wrecks, locomotive sales, and many years of indecision. CN rebuilt hundreds of low horsepower units during the 1980s and 90s to partial Dash-2 specs. The official names for the rebuilds add a "RM" suffix onto the original model name, they include the GP9RM, GMD1RM, FP9RM (for VIA Rail), SW1200RM, SW1200RSRM, and SD40RM. Since then no new 4 axle units have been purchased or rebuilt, and heavy overhauls have been minimal. Many older locomotives were sold off during the Hunter Harrison era, in particular the GP40 fleet was reduced from nearly 300 to only about 40 or 50 units, and many of those 'RM' rebuilds were retired. The GP9RM's and GP38-2's still form the backbone of our yard fleet, and it has been at least 30 years since any of them were built or rebuilt. Heavy yard switching takes its toll, as does being operated via Beltpak by employees without much experience, and many units have been lost to accidents or accumulated frame damage from all the years of rough treatment. The upper echelons of the Company have ignored this impending major problem for many years, just as they ignored the impending mass retirement of many senior employees in the mid-late 2000s. Things finally came to a head a couple years ago, and they started leasing a bunch of 4 axle units from GATX. More and more 6 axle units have been shifted into yard service over the past 5 years, all the SD40RM's seem to have been equipped with Beltpak, as have some SD40-2W's, the ex-Northern Alberta SD38-2's, and even some ex-Oakway SD60's, though most of those are kept in the U.S. as they are also equipped with PTC.
SD60MAC9500 SD70Dude, Sounds like you guys are really short on 4 axle power. What happened?
SD70Dude, Sounds like you guys are really short on 4 axle power. What happened?
Age, wrecks, locomotive sales, and many years of indecision.
CN rebuilt hundreds of low horsepower units during the 1980s and 90s to partial Dash-2 specs. The official names for the rebuilds add a "RM" suffix onto the original model name, they include the GP9RM, GMD1RM, FP9RM (for VIA Rail), SW1200RM, SW1200RSRM, and SD40RM.
Since then no new 4 axle units have been purchased or rebuilt, and heavy overhauls have been minimal. Many older locomotives were sold off during the Hunter Harrison era, in particular the GP40 fleet was reduced from nearly 300 to only about 40 or 50 units, and many of those 'RM' rebuilds were retired.
The GP9RM's and GP38-2's still form the backbone of our yard fleet, and it has been at least 30 years since any of them were built or rebuilt. Heavy yard switching takes its toll, as does being operated via Beltpak by employees without much experience, and many units have been lost to accidents or accumulated frame damage from all the years of rough treatment.
The upper echelons of the Company have ignored this impending major problem for many years, just as they ignored the impending mass retirement of many senior employees in the mid-late 2000s. Things finally came to a head a couple years ago, and they started leasing a bunch of 4 axle units from GATX.
More and more 6 axle units have been shifted into yard service over the past 5 years, all the SD40RM's seem to have been equipped with Beltpak, as have some SD40-2W's, the ex-Northern Alberta SD38-2's, and even some ex-Oakway SD60's, though most of those are kept in the U.S. as they are also equipped with PTC.
Very few 4 axles have been build by any manufacturer in the 21st Century for any carrier in North America. Feature the shortage will soon strike all carriers as most followed EHH's game plan for PSR and putting invested capital into the hands of the shareholders..
SD70Dude traisessive1 Why would they paint a booster? They're scrapping these things left and right in Winnipeg. Why would they paint a booster that won't leave the yard? This thing won't be roaming the system. Info from reliable sources on the Loconotes group states that CN sent two slugs and two standard cab GP38-2's to be rebuilt, probably to some sort of Dash-3 specs. They will be renumbered 7600-7601 and 600-601. One of the Edmonton (Walker) shop guys has mentioned on Facebook that several of our dead line slugs are supposed to be sent away for rebuilding. I'm hoping that this is the start of a large yard power rebuilding program, but I'm not holding my breath. The special paintjob came as a complete surprise, and I too have no idea why they picked a slug. Hopefully this is also the start of something much bigger.
traisessive1 Why would they paint a booster? They're scrapping these things left and right in Winnipeg. Why would they paint a booster that won't leave the yard? This thing won't be roaming the system.
Why would they paint a booster? They're scrapping these things left and right in Winnipeg. Why would they paint a booster that won't leave the yard? This thing won't be roaming the system.
Info from reliable sources on the Loconotes group states that CN sent two slugs and two standard cab GP38-2's to be rebuilt, probably to some sort of Dash-3 specs. They will be renumbered 7600-7601 and 600-601.
One of the Edmonton (Walker) shop guys has mentioned on Facebook that several of our dead line slugs are supposed to be sent away for rebuilding.
I'm hoping that this is the start of a large yard power rebuilding program, but I'm not holding my breath.
The special paintjob came as a complete surprise, and I too have no idea why they picked a slug. Hopefully this is also the start of something much bigger.
Responding to the earlier posters.. There's still GT painted units running around. Don't see a reason for a GT heritage unit..
SD70DudeThis just rolled out of the paint shop at Progress Rail in Tacoma. Better late than never:
Such a cute little slug.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
Two views of three brand new units 1582-1585-1583 at Bathurst Street Yard.
There are a zillion or so pics of CNR green and gold out there.
This was completely unexpected, and I'm thrilled to see new yard power and any sort of CN heritage unit, but the modeller/rivet counter in me is struggling to get out.
It's the pre-1961 scheme, but the green is off and the "Canadian National" lettering should be black. The yellow looks pretty close to being right, but it could be off a tad.
Historically, CN used a olive green that was very similar to the ubiquitous "Pullman Green" used on countless passenger cars, if not the same.
This most closely resembles the colours used by the Prairie Dog Central tourist railway on one of their GP9's:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mtlwestrailfan/29395338960
Yes it is.
...whaddya mean which one .. Canadian National Railway ... those are the colours, green and gold, of their first generation Diesels until replaced by the CN noodle on black and red-orange trim with white striping.
Central Vermont, Grand Trunk Western, Grand Trunk, and DW&P (mostly)
SD70DudeSince this thread was entertaining and I don't really like starting new ones, I'll resurrect it. This just rolled out of the paint shop at Progress Rail in Tacoma. Better late than never: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=5395658&fbclid=IwAR1XIsu_ZYDqetfnbWxuG2G46jHVmChsy4y6OsEovrB1lYham_TAXzmBlGA
This just rolled out of the paint shop at Progress Rail in Tacoma. Better late than never:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=5395658&fbclid=IwAR1XIsu_ZYDqetfnbWxuG2G46jHVmChsy4y6OsEovrB1lYham_TAXzmBlGA
Looks like it forgot to duck when going under a low bridge.
Are those colors representative of a heritage RR in CN? Is so, which one?
Since this thread was entertaining and I don't really like starting new ones, I'll resurrect it.
While we are remaking the Grand Trunk Western scheme it is a great time to finally add the W to the GT logo so it is finally a GTW logo.
Andrew
Watch my videos on-line at https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer
Well I designed this baby a year or so ago but I think she would look very sharp.
Mechanical Department "No no that's fine shove that 20 pound set all around the yard... those shoes aren't hell and a half to change..."
The Missabe Road: Safety First
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