CN GP40s in New Jersey in 1976?

[Lyon_Wonder]

I was surprised when I saw a pic of a CN GP40s in New Jersey in the 1970s. 

http://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=107368

I wonder what CN locos were doing this far south 20 or-so years before CN acquired IC and it’s then-current US subsidiaries GTW and the former Central Vermont didn’t have trackage this far south either.  Seeing a CN loco anywhere outside of Canada must have been a very rare sight prior to CN’s expansion into the US in the late 1990s.  Nowadays CN locos can be seen on the former IC and as well as trackage-rights or pool power on BNSF and other class 1s, especially in the midwest.   

[cx500]

 In the past (before the widespread run-through power of today) there were several cases where CN power went off line.  I believe there were a few times when CN was in a surplus situation and leased some power to an American road.  There were also occasions when locomotives were exchanged for a month or two for testing by one or other railroad.  A GP40 will be familiar to any shop and would be a likely candidate either way.  Not sure what may have been happening in your case though.

John

[beaulieu]

cx500

 In the past (before the widespread run-through power of today) there were several cases where CN power went off line.  I believe there were a few times when CN was in a surplus situation and leased some power to an American road.  There were also occasions when locomotives were exchanged for a month or two for testing by one or other railroad.  A GP40 will be familiar to any shop and would be a likely candidate either way.  Not sure what may have been happening in your case though.

John

 

Possibly related to CN's Positive Traction Control system, an early improvement on EMD's IDAC wheelslip control.

[oltmannd]

Conrail did lease a bunch of CN power in the fall of 1976 on for a very short time. The CN took the locomotives back after they found Conrail wasn't keeping the locomotive cabs to CN's liking (or so went the rumor at the time....)