??? An Alco on the transcon ???

[chad thomas]

Was I seeing things???

Yesterday as I was pulling into my motel room here in Needles there was a train heading out of town (west). The second unit of this train was a big 6 axle unit painted in CN colors with the black & white zebra stripes on the long hood. I was a 1/4 mile away and looking into the sun, but I swear it looked like an Alco

Could it be ?

[Erie Lackawanna]

If it was the last unit, I would have guessed a hulk being moved DIC.  Second unit though?  I have no explination for that.

[nanaimo73]

Was it a cowl? A SD50F, SD60F or C40-8M seems more likely.

They retired their last Bombardiers and MLWs in 1998.

[chad thomas]

It was definately a working unit, I could see the exhaust.

The main things I could see that made me think it was an Alco was the fuel tank was rounded on the sides (1/2 circle as opposed to EMDs 1/4 circle) and the middle front cab and windows portruded to a shollow point.

[chad thomas]

Was it a cowl? A SD50F, SD60F or C40-8M seems more likely.

I don't think so.

[Anonymous]

A lease unit maybe?

[chad thomas]

A lease unit maybe?

Quite possible, it was in CN paint but I didn't see any CN markings.

I hope it comes back through on a eastbound so I can get a picture.

[Erie Lackawanna]

If I was to guess (which I think I'm about to do) I would say it was an opitcal illusion... that it was probably an SD40-2 rent-a-wreck that had its paint somehow modified so in the distance and with the sun in your eyes, it seemed to take on a different shape.

I don't think it's possible you saw a working ALCO (or MLW) in CN paint being used on the Transcon.  Just doesn't make sense.  (Of course, now someone will post that it was one...LOL).

[nanaimo73]

They retired their last Bombardiers and MLWs in 1998.

Could you tell if it was 4 stroke or 2? I presume it had 4 front windows?

[chad thomas]

They retired their last Bombardiers and MLWs in 1998.

Could you tell if it was 4 stroke or 2? I presume it had 4 front windows?

Couldn't tell the strokes. Yes it had 4 front windows.

Charles, it definately wasn't a SD40-2. All logic says I was seeing things, but I could clearly see the 2 features I mentioned (tank & cab).

Isn't there a mine in eastern Canada that ended up with some C636s or C640s? Could it have been one of those?

[Anonymous]

Yes, there was a mine, I beleive it was Cartier Mining Company. They are isolated, but I think they bought some AC4400s to replace some of the old Alcos, so they could've been sold to a leasor. It could've also been a slow time at the mine so they brought a few locos down to earn revanue in leasor service. I know Alaska Railroad did that on the North Shore Mining Co. in MN.

[nanaimo73]

Several CN M-636s went to Cartier, but I think Cartier painted them all into black with orange cabs.

[Erie Lackawanna]

Chad -- Can't be... all of the Cartier units that are in the USA are stored in upstate New York.  Most aren't servicable.  They were recently sold by the Susquehanna to the Livonia, Avon & Lakeville. 

Are you 100% sure it was in CN colors?  There are six axle ALCOS/MLWs out there, and I'm wondering if one could have been working its way back from some repair facility, but I'm not aware of any in CN paint.  Charles

 

[Anonymous]

There was one road operating in Nova Scotia that had old CN units.... paint scheme was black...I can't remember the roadname...

They had a bunch of ex-CN units, some of which weren't repainted. The book I have says they were retired; maybe they were sold to a leasor?

[trainfan1221]

They were interesting to see on Susie-Q, from what I understand they basically ran them into the ground.

[nanaimo73]

There was one road operating in Nova Scotia that had old CN units.... paint scheme was black...I can't remember the roadname...

CB&NS had several ex CN C-630M, but I think they were all scrapped.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoList.aspx?id=CBNS

[Anonymous]

There was one road operating in Nova Scotia that had old CN units.... paint scheme was black...I can't remember the roadname...

CB&NS had several ex CN C-630M, but I think they were all scrapped.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoList.aspx?id=CBNS

That was the railroad I was talking about, thanks.

[chad thomas]

Chad -- Can't be... all of the Cartier units that are in the USA are stored in upstate New York.  Most aren't servicable.  They were recently sold by the Susquehanna to the Livonia, Avon & Lakeville. 

Are you 100% sure it was in CN colors?  There are six axle ALCOS/MLWs out there, and I'm wondering if one could have been working its way back from some repair facility, but I'm not aware of any in CN paint.  Charles

 

Yes, reddish orange cab & diagonal black & white stripes on the long hood. 

[Erie Lackawanna]

Hmmmm.... well.... um.... okay, I have no idea.  Sorry.

[mudchicken]

LB Stevadore/Delta Port Terminal in Long Beach or Stockton get a new one?

[chad thomas]

LB Stevadore/Delta Port Terminal in Long Beach or Stockton get a new one?

New one what ?

[Erie Lackawanna]

They've had two SF30Cs (rebuilt U36Cs) for quite a few years now. 

And one of these days, I'm going to get a right side of the sun shot of one of them pulling a train!  (Only been trying ten years now.)

[chad thomas]

Definately not a SF30C

[WCfan]

That's weird. It has to be a SD40-2W or a SD50F. I Think that's all the SDs/6 axel units left in the CN Zebra Stripe.

[mudchicken]

LB Stevadore/Delta Port Terminal in Long Beach or Stockton get a new one?

New one what ?

Both have had 6 axle ALCo units in the past. (LB Stevadore = Metropolitan Stevadore in Long Beach harbor next to the APL facility in the Port, accross the slip from the Queen Mary)

[chad thomas]

Thanks MC.

I was hopeing it would come back through here, but it don't look like that's gonna happen