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[EJE818]

Well, if case if some of you haven't heard there are going to be some massive changes to the CN's motive power assignments that will change the power you see on the IC and WC. It will also cause significant retirements of DM&IR engines and possibly significant retirements of B&LE engines all well. This could cause a repeat of what happened to WC power last year around this time. DM&IR fans, my advice is to get up to the DM&IR as quickly as possible, and if you live in the Duluth area, get all the photos of DM&IR maroon engines that you can. This is really a no win situation for anyone. I am not going to go into details on these huge changes coming, but I have posted the exact details on this post. http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1294500/ShowPost.aspx#1294500

I agree MSTS is the better train simulator of the two.

[WCfan]

Alec, can't wait to see pictures.

Robby, when are they sending down the DMIR locos. I'll probably beg my dad after we get back from Colorado to take me to Steven's Point. Or are they send the DMIR to a northern "retirement" shop, man this sucks. I just wonder what will happenen to the EJE power. 

[EJE818]

They are going to be retiring everything except SD40-3s 400-409, and all but 403 are in CN paint. Hopefully if they send them anywhere it is Homewood so I can go get some shots of them. I guess I'll probably never hear the sweet sounds of a DM&IR engine again. About the EJ&E, it seems when CN takes over a line it takes them a few years to make massive changes to the motive power. I would imagine the SD18 and the SDMs will probably be retired pretty quickly, then the SD38s, then the SD38-2s, then the SD38-2s upgraded to SD38-3s last. I can't see CN getting rid of the SD38-3s right way considering they were rebuilt just a few years ago. I think they have much more of a chance then the DM&IR and B&LE SD38-2s ever did. EJ&E rebuilt them to at least get another 20 years out of them. It is actually quite a similar rebuilt to what the WC SD45s got. They also have computers more typical of a modern engine in them. I've never been in one myself, but I'd like to. I've seen photos of tyhe inside of one of the rebuilds, and it is amazing how many modern things EJ&E put in them. The ones not rebuilt that I know of are SD38s 650 and 654, and SD38-2s 658, 662, 668, and 670-675. Speaking of 650, it sounds like it is at Gary shops getting a new prime mover. I wonder if EJ&E is going to rebuild it or leave it as is. I also still think EJ&E power will roam the system mainly on lower priority trains and in yard service. I'd rather have them stay home, but it is good for all the rest of you on CN if they don't.

[wctransfer]

God! Does it ever stop? Well, after trying to get up to Duluth for a year now to see the last of the DMIR, It looks like that wont ever happen...... Wonderful.... And they are taking with them the last cool old units on the CN (those ex GM&O ones are my favorites). I suppose it will look neat with 3 black ICs, but since Im not up there its not really going to benefit me. Are those replacement engines going to replace the two BLE SD40-3s up there too?

Alec

[WCfan]

Oh dang. I just relized this. I'll be getting alot more CN SD40-2Ls or IC reapaint's for the switchers. Owell a SD40-2 is a SD40-2. it's better than a Dash 9 or SD75i or ES44DC. Oh wait, I'll be getting more of the Dash 9s, SD75i's and ES's on the main. Dang. Good bye good ol Rainbow consists with classic EMDs on the Valley Sub.

Alec, that sucks. After all that waiting, CN ruines it......

[Lord Atmo]

humm.. what a bummer. but fortunately i saw a DMIR SD18 at the museum. so i have DMIR power in my roster. this doesnt bother me too much. but i do sympathize for those who feel attached to this road..

look on the bright side. at least the DMIR units are being retired instead of...ugh...being forced to run in..*gag*..ARMOUR YELLOW!! ARRRRGH!!!!! 

[coborn35]

Boy would I be pissed if I was a Missabe crewman. Those IC units are NOT equipped for DMIR operation.

[trainboyH16-44]

I don't even know what CN's thinking. Why do they even WANT to retire engines instead of running a railroad? "We don't have to maintain them anymore, so we save money!" Yeah, but you can't run trains anymore, and all of your employees hate the corporation because it's taking away the tools they need to even do their job properly!

humm.. what a bummer. but fortunately i saw a DMIR SD18 at the museum. so i have DMIR power in my roster. this doesnt bother me too much. but i do sympathize for those who feel attached to this road..

look on the bright side. at least the DMIR units are being retired instead of...ugh...being forced to run in..*gag*..ARMOUR YELLOW!! ARRRRGH!!!!! 

I'd stop talking, like, right now... 

 

[EJE818]

IC 6006 has been seen in photos on the DM&IR, plus I have heard IC 6011 is already up on the DM&IR getting worked on at Proctor. I don't really know the DM&IR's requirements too much but I know straight air braking is one of them. Sounds like IC 6011 is getting straight air at Proctor. Now I am going to have to go all the way to Pennslyvania to see to the IC 6071 again. All of the ones going to the B&LE will be the ex-GM&Os, but not all of them. The ones going to the DM&IR will be a good portion of the ex-SD40As and 9 SD40-2s, and at least two of those are in IC paint, 6252 and 6257. Basically this means massive retirements of DM&IR and B&LE power, and the chance of seeing pure IC power being reduced. The 60XX SD40-2s and the SD70s (except for the 1039) are the main two types of IC engines that haven't been touched too much, along with a few GP40s and GP38-2s. Moving the ICs really isn't going to help the "power short" CN. About the two B&LE's (903 and 909), I've heard it is possible 1-4 of the B&LE SD40-3s will be having their leases expire. I wonder if CN increased the number of ICs heading to the DM&IR from 21 to 24 to replace the 903 and 909 on the DM&IR. The answer to the recent power moves is simple, one of CN's last priorities is safety, it is as simple as that. It would've made more sense to send some more suitable engines to replace the DM&IR fleet. Also I've heard some nasty rumors about how drafty the IC SD40-2s are, and I would hate to be on one of those in northern Minnesota in the winter if that were the case!

[WCfan]

So the DMIR locomotive are beeing sent down already. I hope they don't get sent down during christmas break, because I will be gone. I would like to see if I can catch any in Stevens Point coming down. man this sucks. 

[EJE818]

Sounds like two DM&IR engines have been retired due to this already, SD40-3 411 and SD38-2 869. 869 is still in patched B&LE paint. I am not sure if they are on their way to Homewood or not yet. The remaining SD38-2s, SDMs, and SD40-3s from 410 up will probably be retired as the ICs arrive. Remember the DM&IR is in a pretty bad power shortage, so they probably won't be able to retire anything until the replacements arrive and since some of the ICs are supposed to get straight air, that may take a little longer. I still need to get over to Homewood and try to see WC 2500. I'd honestly like to see just one B&LE engine at Homewood. B&LE was the third major Transtar railroad along with the EJ&E and DM&IR, so it would be neat to see one of the B&LE engines.

[Lord Atmo]

humm.. what a bummer. but fortunately i saw a DMIR SD18 at the museum. so i have DMIR power in my roster. this doesnt bother me too much. but i do sympathize for those who feel attached to this road..

look on the bright side. at least the DMIR units are being retired instead of...ugh...being forced to run in..*gag*..ARMOUR YELLOW!! ARRRRGH!!!!! 

I'd stop talking, like, right now...  

 

 

...why? 

[oscaletrains]

im gonna stop it before it starts. atmo, never mind. trainboy, leave it be, m'kay? it's the holadays.

are we going to have to start anew next year, again?

sucks about the DMIR but we all know the story, i dont think that there is anyone here who hasent been affected by CN's buy everything ideals. i mean come on! even there employees arent happy with how the company is headed.

CN's motto: we buy, we retire, we **** railfans off.

so I am going to here back from the hobby store owner this week about my first meeting. I am so happy something I am doing is going to work!

[EJE818]

Yes, that is all CN does. First the WC SD45s, then the DM&IR engines, and on top of that they are taking over the EJ&E. CN does run a holiday train each year with the IC E9s on it, but that is pretty much it. Other then that it is buy any regional or shortline they can find in the midwest out, retire engines, retire some more engines, then scrap them all. I have heard CN is 200 engines short right now, mostly because of the WC SD45s and the numerous engines retired earlier this year, and that was before they started retiring the WC gray shost SD40-3s and the DM&IR engines. If they are so power short they should be getting more new power before retiring anything else, but they won't, they will keep retiring engines no matter how short of power they are. They could've ran the gray shosts and the higher numbered DM&IR SD40-3s right until their leases expired, but they get retired months before then. Speaking of that the DM&IR 415 which has been stored at Homewood for a few months, the BCOL RS18C 621, and three SAR C39-8s are getting the torch at Homewood now.

Employees are not happy where CN is heading, and I can tell you the people I have talked to on the EJ&E are very upset by the pending deal because of the layoffs that went on on the DM&IR, their former sister railroad. From people I have talked to I have heard nothing but bad things about working for CN.

It is as simple as this, you cannot say "CaN't do anything right" without CN!

[Jdelhaye]

hmmm 4160. perhaps it will soon get bankrupcy blue. at least i hope. IRM will only carry so much CNW power, and i want the last slot to have an SD40-2 in it

 

To repeat, and enlarge upon, my previous posting in another thread..... 

"any news about CNW 4160's future, other than DIRECTLY from IRM, is strictly hearsay, conjecture and rumor , and is not to be relied upon for accuracy, truthfullness, and/or basis in fact"

 As for the alleged "fact" that "IRM will only carry so much CNW power", I can only say that this would be a decision that would have to be made by IRM's Board of Directors.

 And, as for a CNW SD40-2, please feel free to purchase one and donate to IRM, along with a check for $200 for every foot of track it will occupy (X69 feet = $13,800) to cover track and inside storage charges. Even a free locomotive costs IRM money, to maintain, store, and restore, let alone operate!

 Jeff