I caught 3 of the 4 SDMs while I was up there, which was awfully nice. They were all working out of the Evelth/Iron Junction area, with a set of them working on the ore trains from the Thunderbird mine to the Fairlane taconite plant. I don't know where they are regularly assigned, but that sure seemed to be a hotbed for them those few days anyway.
At least to this point it's been a relatively slow process for the DMIR to CN conversion too. But now that it's started, it does seem to be going faster. Seems like another SD40-3 goes to homewood about every other month for repainting. I'm just glad that three years after the sale, I was still able to get photos of pure DMIR consists and equipment while up there. There's a chance I may be going back again towards to end of October, though that's not really offical yet. Would be nice to try and catch things one more time.
Noah
My Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/JR7582 My Flickr Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wcfan/
You can have the fake IC Dash 9s up there too! Just kidding. How about CN just sends the DM&IR SD38-2s out to roam the system and have them run between Duluth and Chicago? No, I doubt that will be happening anytime soon. Oh well, at least the EJ&E, Iowa Interstate, and IHB use SD38-2s in the Chicago area. The EJ&E is located about 5 minutes from where I live. I go out and see their fleet of bright orange SD38-2s all the time. Its too bad only three EJ&E SD38-2s (650, 654, and 662) and the GP38-2 703 still wear this paint, but I like the new paint (the white chevron scheme on the other engines in the photo I have posted) also! Here is the 662 heading through Joliet already up to speed. Once they get over the Des Plaines River, they don't waste any time getting up to track speed.
Sounds to me like Wisconsin gets the fake GTW gray ghosts a lot also. I have seen those quite a bit at Homewood. I'll take a true GTW over those any day! When all of you in Wisconsin get tired of the black ICs, we will gladly take care of that problem and send them back to the IC!
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
A few of the DMIR locomotive have been retired already. For the SD40-3s, I think they were the 416 (meant 418) and 417, and the SDM 317. The 209 has been retired as well, and is a parts unit to get a CN SD38 back up and running.
While something like 8 or 9 of the SD40-3s have been rewired and repainted, the CN has yet to touch the SD38s or SDMs. While it's nice because it means there are still unpainted DMIR units to be found, it probably doesn't bode well for their future...
Just realized I wrote the 416 above, but that should have been the 418. The 416 is still alive and well (for the time being anyway).
I knew I was forgetting one too, thanks Max!
wednesday
went to dale for a little bit
saw MOW workers replacing rail on the fireplace spur. the guys were nice to me & didnt mind me at all.
i saw 2 trains 1 photo.
extra 346 came by w/ 2 CN locomotives
heres the MOW guys
well i was in a town park along the tracks & i was about 7 ft from the tracks. i heard on the radio another MOW guy was comming to check up on the other guys. well the new guy walks over to me & starts talkin rude to me accusing me of going on property & that we run trains here. well i know they run trains their im not that stupid. well i walked away. i heard another s/b was comming. well it had to park on the siding. it was GTW 5940 & WC 6004 on 408. it had to stop at a red cause things had to clear up in neenah first before ti could proceed & one was on its way up & was in oshkosh.
ill prolly go back next week.
CRAP! When are the WC SD40-3s coming up Max? Gah, Im comin up soon, I have to now before they are all gone. I'll PM ya Max.
Alec