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String Lining

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Monday, March 4, 2019 7:10 AM

The black SD40-2's were ex-Southern locomotives that went to CP after coming off lease.  At about the same time, CP also picked up some white SD40-2's from KCS that were relettered but not renumbered.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
NDG
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Posted by NDG on Sunday, March 3, 2019 4:39 PM
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Posted by Miningman on Saturday, March 2, 2019 9:47 PM

Check out these photos. Was EHH secretly successful in acquiring Norfolk Southern? Did Canadian Pacific secretly and silently buy all the Union Pacific stock?  These leased units will no doubt turn heads!

3249 leased 1991 GATX purchased 6/1992 (ex NS nee SOU 3249). SD40 EMD 75615-6 1975 
Long hood forward leaves no doubt as to its ancestry. 
Renumbered 5480 5/1993 Retired 10/2003 Sold 8/2004 NRE Capreol Resold 6/2007 ALL (Brazil) 

3252

5430 acq. 3/14/1994 (ex GATX 2008 nee MP 3195) Sold 5/26/1999 LLPX 4406 
Part of GATX 2000-2009 leased previously.

Also here is the very short lived dual flags paint scheme.

it turned out to be quite controversial as both sides felt it disrespected their flags.

It actually looked much better in person than it did in pictures. Nonetheless it is gone gone gone ain't never coming back. 

5492 ex MKCX 9418 SD40M-2 EMD/MK nee CO 7531:2 EMD 37208 3/1971

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Posted by Miningman on Saturday, March 2, 2019 9:42 AM

Congratulations! Also nice to have you back. 

Geez two # 2338's... well someone was thinking to get that shot!

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Posted by SD70Dude on Saturday, March 2, 2019 1:03 AM

And a couple small updates from my part of the world, CN 1392 passed her internal boiler inspection last week and will soon be officially hydro-tested (both are annual requirements here).  A unofficial "prep" hydro was done today and everything looked good.

Looks like it will be a good year out at the Alberta Railway Museum, if we can only get through this cold!

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

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Posted by SD70Dude on Saturday, March 2, 2019 12:58 AM

98/06/07 may have seen the last revenue service runs of Class I ALCO/MLW power, but it would take another 12 years for the last one to leave the roster. 

The holdout was CN 2338, a M636 which was kept at Toronto's MacMillan Yard until 2010, initially as a backup Y2K generator.  (remember that "crisis"?)

After the last ES44DC's were delivered someone managed to get a shot of two 2338's posed side by side:

From here:

http://www.canadianrailwayobservations.com/2010/dec10/dec10cn.htm

 

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

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Posted by Miningman on Friday, March 1, 2019 8:47 PM

Here's one for M636C and Alco fans.  All MLW lashup for the last time. 

Famous" last run of MLW power 4210_1837_1838_4216_4230 westbound at the Falls. This unofficial "last run" was setup by Bruce Chapman of the Operations Centre in Windsor Station HQ. Trouble keeping them all running was encountered in Smiths Falls and the train left with 1838_4216 dead all the way to Windsor! They returned the same way! 
St.Luc Diesel Shop men had done a heroic job keeping all the old MLW power running way beyond their best before date. Finally, the end was near. Soon, the order came down. "Effective tonight at 2359." That was July 7, 1998. 
 

 

Last MLW's! 4210_1837_1838_4216_4230 westbound with 921-20 from Montreal to Windsor.
Smiths Falls 1000 hours Saturday June 20, 1998. 

 

Note: Three units worked back to Montreal on separate trains while 1838_4216 returned dead on 926. 

 

Note 2: 1837_4210_4230 continued working the Hochelaga Transfer 
until ALL MLW power ended 2359 July 7, 1998. LBC
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Posted by NorthWest on Wednesday, February 20, 2019 11:46 PM

Really enjoy all the stuff here. Hope it goes on as long as possible. Lots of fun stuff to learn.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.

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Posted by Miningman on Wednesday, February 20, 2019 11:03 PM

Great stuff NDG. I wish we had a guy in every city across our 2 lands that can bring personal account and experiences backed with historical photos and talk about the way it was done, its meaning and how it looked at the time like you do. 

Here and there we get some. It's important to record these things before that window is lost. I'm not talking about historical societies and such, but one step past that, personalized accounts and explanations. 

Where are the Pacific Electric/ LA guys? Got to be a million things there. 

 

 

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Wednesday, February 20, 2019 7:56 PM

 

Thank You.

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Posted by Miningman on Wednesday, February 20, 2019 7:40 PM

Good good! Maybe it's just on my 'puter.  So how did you reply?

Luv that story and the picture with the streetcar and Mack bus, which I had not noticed until it was pointed out.  Amazing how much change there has been, a society transformed. 

 

 

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Wednesday, February 20, 2019 7:32 PM

Miningman

 

 

Once Again Thank You Sirs for the Link!

Are there Troubles afoot mayhaps? 

Time will tell.

 

Merci!

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Wednesday, February 20, 2019 12:50 AM

Plateau.

 
Thank You Messrs.
 
There was a certain amount of discontent almost Sixty 60 years ago when I was in the Bell re folks w Similar, but Different Languages
 
The film of the song brings back many Memories of the past as @ time 00:37, in the distance to the left of the Juggler.
 
 
The low white building as here, looking West.
 
 
 
Was in use in the Forties as a Tramways Terminus where the Mountain Cars w/ Regenerative Braking met with City Cars and was surrounded by streetcars. Looking East. Juggler would be off to right, in distance,  Mack Bus approaching.
 
 
 
Olympic Stadium in Far Distance.
 
Building far left, sloped tin roof above Southbound car was once Montreal, Park and Island Terminus  c.1900.
 
Once M P & I Station to right. Looking NE. 
 
 
 
Back in the Forties my Father and I would cross over the Mountain, NO Streetcar Service in Winter, Two 2 Routes, One Up the far side to the Summit, and One Down the near side to Terminal shown., I would ride on a Toboggan.
 
We would pass thru the Tunnel, no snow inside, so I had to walk.
 
Looking East Downgrade.
 
 
I was terrified a streetcar would show up when we were in the tunnel, even tho' 2 ft snow outside on track.
 
All was Well, no streetcars in Winter and we arrived at the Terminus as shown.
 
Went home by Streetcar, ' Back of the Mountain ', as it was called.
 
To Home, Supper, Coke Heat, AM Radio and Bed., A War just over. Hope ahead.
 
All changed, now, Scenery, Buildings and Politics.

Merci, Encore!

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Posted by Miningman on Tuesday, February 19, 2019 12:57 PM
NDG
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Posted by NDG on Tuesday, February 12, 2019 1:57 AM

 

FYI.
 
 
The ' Empress of Ireland '
 
 

Thank You.

 

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Monday, February 11, 2019 12:28 AM

 

FYI.
 
Headlights.
 
 
I was aware that Montreal's PCC cars did not come with factory Headlights, as that was the Montreal Standard.  AFAIK, when they needed headlights as in suburban service, a PORTABLE headlight, similar to a Locomotive's was applied.
 
City cars did not need headlights, as too bright against traffic, was the logic, and there would also be City streetlighting for illumination.
 
This car on Rte 17 which was muchly suburban and received a Headlight, and often Red Coal Oil marker, right rear. Running on wrong side of street on War Trackage. On correct side on return. 
 
 
Canny Directors put five 5 electric light bulbs under hood on front of car = Trolley Voltage, which illuminated the front of car at night, then put advertising beneath the lights for a price. Usually OFF in daytime.
 
 
Dash Lighting w Advertising.
 
 
 
Work Cars got the Dash Lighting and portable headlight, also. W Whistle.
 
 
This Tower Car, one of two, patrolled the System and always wound up in the the leg of the Wye near our home around lunch as there was room to back way in and allow other cars to Wye, too.  Cafe nearby, the kind w red topped stools and Fountain Drinks.
 
The Tower Car would be there when we went downtown by streetcar, and one or two cars would come and go as they were not for the route we needed. I would get all brave and walk over to the Tower Car, as it was a Fave, but at a distance. The Compressor would start, and that was that.
 
Other cars had the power contactors under the car in a metal cage, and if the Motorman opened the Controller WIDE to move up at the stop and shut off, there would be a loud POC and flash at a child's eye level waiting in the line up by the car.
 
BIG SCARE, especially at night. Compressor on, too, for the stop. 
 
Ditto under Section Breakers on Trolley Wire.
 
The Tower Cars were offered at end of streetcars. No one took them, and they were burnt. 
 
First went the Wire.
 
 
 
Then went the Rails.
 
 
Next, The Torch, en Feu.
 
Until a few weeks before CN 4190/Nee 4100 would run back and forth on Oil Transfers on overpass in distance. 
 
 
CN 4100, Twice.
 
 
CN 4100. Trice. 
 
 
CP had a 4100. For a while.
 
 
Thank You.
 
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Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Sunday, February 10, 2019 7:17 PM

NDG
Looking South. Bank Angled Corner. Left.   https://www.google.com/maps/@45.4843575,-73.6303229,3a,32.4y,127.66h,90.48t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sNC5WBZGfIqO8BW7u5XlRBQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Was Monteal the only system to not have headlights on PCC cars? Most photos I have seen and most cars i've seen had the single center headlight and some of those also had the two front downwash lights. According to the caption on page 70 of the 1980 book "PCC THE CAR THAT FOUGHT BACK" by Stephen P. Carlson & Fred W. Schneider III, Montreal cars were "Unique" in not having a headlight. Does anyone know why?

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Posted by zardoz on Sunday, February 10, 2019 6:26 PM

AgentKid
crews working out of Alyth on Mixed trains on branchlines used to use friction tape to seal the front door ahead of the fireman on GP-7's and '9s.

In the pre-safety-cab era, we used paper towels, soaked with water, tucked into the door; when it froze, it made a fairly tight seal.

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Posted by AgentKid on Sunday, February 10, 2019 4:27 PM

NDG
Swathed in that Tacky, that word, again, Friction Tape, a Duct Tape of Yore??

Now, a challenge for the internet picture sleuths. I have only ever seen one picture in a BRMNA book.

During the winters of '61-'62 and '62-'63, or one winter either way, crews working out of Alyth on Mixed trains on branchlines used to use friction tape to seal the front door ahead of the fireman on GP-7's and '9s. The crew used the rear facing door behind the engineer. I remember seeing this as a kid. The factory rubber seal on the door just could not deal with the cold prairie wind blowing in. Every able bodied man in those days had a roll for his hockey stick, so finding rolls was no problem at all.

Eventually the company put a stop to this, as it was considered a safety violation. But if you put your shoulder into the door, no way was tape going to hold anyone back.

I anxiously await internet ready photos.

Bruce

 

So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.

"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere"  CP Rail Public Timetable

"O. S. Irricana"

. . . __ . ______

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Sunday, February 10, 2019 3:58 PM
 
I was remiss to not remember. Had Victoriaville hockey sticks, aeons ago.  In the time of Six 6 teams, Foster Hewett and Danny Gallivan. On AM Radio, the game played in your mind.
 
 
 
Swathed in that Tacky, that word, again, Friction Tape, a Duct Tape of Yore?? 
 
 
 
Had  Toboggans, too. Cushion, Green.
 
 
GREAT fun on lake w long rope behind 1/2 ton w chains. A winter-only pastime. 

 

Thank You.

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Posted by SD70Dude on Sunday, February 10, 2019 10:22 AM

Miningman

As a kid or teen when you saw one you always shouted out "woody". Popular style for a while anyway.

"Punch Buggy" was always my favourite.  My sister eventually forgave me.

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

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Posted by Miningman on Sunday, February 10, 2019 10:11 AM

Nice to see those pictures of Montreal. That pole at the intersection is a nightmare... 12, or better yet 24, arms! How to service something like that? The Overland Stationwagon is a woody. The wood would ( would wood??) weather quickly and fade, crack and discolour. One had to maintain them like a boat. As a kid or teen when you saw one you always shouted out "woody". Popular style for a while anyway. 

Remember various models of vehicles later with Mac Tac applied press on wood substitute? Now that was tacky, pun intended. Looked bloody awful. 

Pics all have signs in English. Well that's gone now. The LAW. 

Mentioned this before but a betting man would have picked Toronto to lose their streetcars, not Montreal, but the reality was the opposite. 

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Saturday, February 9, 2019 5:04 AM

Snowdon Junction. Tramways.

Looking the Other Way.
 
 
Most Montrealais recognize this location.  Looking North.
 
 
And this one. Station Wagon right is a Jeep/Willys-Overland.
 
 
Looking West. Tramways re-orging track, 1950. Bank Left shown next view. My Father and I used to walk down to watch this work.
 
 
Business was Good. Big New Bank. Looking South.
 
 
AFAIK, this was the largest building that had to be demolished for Decarie Expressway. 
 
Looking South. Bank Angled Corner. Left.
 
 
Thank You.
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Posted by BaltACD on Friday, February 8, 2019 10:16 PM

Paul_D_North_Jr
Glad to share something with you, Mr. NDG.

Here's a few more I found of that operation: 

I think this is of Bingham Canyon, showing the sideways pantograph and the portable pylons for the traction wire and other electric lines: 

https://www.aditnow.co.uk/Photo/Electric-Locomotive-Ore-Train-Showing-Overhead-System-Pantagraph_43882/ 

http://utahrails.net/pdf/kennecott-copper_traction-models_march-1976.pdf 

http://utahrails.net/bingham/bingham-index.php 

https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/9780738584898/Bingham-Canyon-Railroads 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bingham_Canyon_Mine 

Short video, fair quality, 2:36 long of "Kennecott Copper railroad at Bingham Canyon open pit mine, Utah, 1995", at: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXGLqTj9h00 

Thank You, Sir!

- PDN. 

How many miles of railroad to go from the top to the bottom of the mine?

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Friday, February 8, 2019 9:19 PM

Glad to share something with you, Mr. NDG.

Here's a few more I found of that operation: 

I think this is of Bingham Canyon, showing the sideways pantograph and the portable pylons for the traction wire and other electric lines: 

https://www.aditnow.co.uk/Photo/Electric-Locomotive-Ore-Train-Showing-Overhead-System-Pantagraph_43882/ 

http://utahrails.net/pdf/kennecott-copper_traction-models_march-1976.pdf 

http://utahrails.net/bingham/bingham-index.php 

https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/9780738584898/Bingham-Canyon-Railroads 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bingham_Canyon_Mine 

Short video, fair quality, 2:36 long of "Kennecott Copper railroad at Bingham Canyon open pit mine, Utah, 1995", at: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXGLqTj9h00 

Thank You, Sir!

- PDN. 

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
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Posted by Miningman on Friday, February 8, 2019 4:24 PM

For those that do not know Victoriaville is home of the famous Victoriaville hockey stick. City long known for its hardwood and superb woodworking. Also home of Jean Beliveau, the long time Captain of the Montreal Canadians and multiple Stanley Cup champion. Also my favourite Prime Minister Sir Wilfred Laurier. I did not know the rails are no longer going to Victoriaville. So sad to hear that.

Victoriaville railway station in 1909
NDG
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Posted by NDG on Friday, February 8, 2019 3:05 PM

 

Burnt Off Roller Bearing.
 
Found one of these, once.
 
They had been looking for it for weeks, and I was the Hero of the Minute until the next time they had some Demerits to Award.  Not Long.
 
Signed for them, too.
 
 
Sent it North on the Caboose on the Wyft. properly tagged w Date, Location found and Car Number.
 
Thank You.

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