Locomotive News

[jrgerber]

https://www.progressiverailroading.com/ ... ves--69554

And it appears CN is retiring all its remaining GP9s according to recent articles.

http://www.cnrha.ca/node/370

[GTW Dude]

I don’t see where it says CN is retiring any GP9’s in your post. The article you linked shows G&W is purchasing more dash 8’s and dash 9’s after they cheated the EPA but nothing about roster retirements.

[patrick]

CN has however begun to pick up former BNSF Dash 9s as well with CN 1887 as ex-BNSF 4566 and CN 1844 as ex-BNSF 4484 so far. The CN 1887 at least is classified by CN as an "EF-644bd"

[Man o' War]

CN has however begun to pick up former BNSF Dash 9s as well with CN 1887 as ex-BNSF 4566 and CN 1844 as ex-BNSF 4484 so far. The CN 1887 at least is classified by CN as an "EF-644bd"

Seems they have acquired 60 BNSF dash 9's for conversion to AC. I'm wondering why they are not continuing to recycle their own units (into 3300's) - or are they?

Man o' War

[LansingRailFan]

CN has however begun to pick up former BNSF Dash 9s as well with CN 1887 as ex-BNSF 4566 and CN 1844 as ex-BNSF 4484 so far. The CN 1887 at least is classified by CN as an "EF-644bd"

Seems they have acquired 60 BNSF dash 9's for conversion to AC. I'm wondering why they are not continuing to recycle their own units (into 3300's) - or are they?

Man o' War

From what I heard, they bought these BNSF dash 9s and sent them to be rebuilt rather than having them run on the system. Once these 60 are done, they’ll continue rebuilding the rest of the CN dash 9s.

[Man o' War]

CN has however begun to pick up former BNSF Dash 9s as well with CN 1887 as ex-BNSF 4566 and CN 1844 as ex-BNSF 4484 so far. The CN 1887 at least is classified by CN as an "EF-644bd"

Seems they have acquired 60 BNSF dash 9's for conversion to AC. I'm wondering why they are not continuing to recycle their own units (into 3300's) - or are they?

Man o' War

From what I heard, they bought these BNSF dash 9s and sent them to be rebuilt rather than having them run on the system. Once these 60 are done, they’ll continue rebuilding the rest of the CN dash 9s.

Thanks LRF! Appreciate the info.

Man o' War

[jrgerber]

Railfan and Railroad September 2023 issue states that CN seeks to purge the remaining GP9 variants from its roster by the end of 2023 which includes 15 of the GP9Rs (4100 series) 26 yard switchers (7000s) 27 slugs (7200s) and six GTW GP9s (4600s).

[LansingRailFan]

Railfan and Railroad September 2023 issue states that CN seeks to purge the remaining GP9 variants from its roster by the end of 2023 which includes 15 of the GP9Rs (4100 series) 26 yard switchers (7000s) 27 slugs (7200s) and six GTW GP9s (4600s).

Can’t trust everything they put out there, especially after the FarmRail thing.

[pudgy]

Railfan and Railroad September 2023 issue states that CN seeks to purge the remaining GP9 variants from its roster by the end of 2023 which includes 15 of the GP9Rs (4100 series) 26 yard switchers (7000s) 27 slugs (7200s) and six GTW GP9s (4600s).

Can’t trust everything they put out there, especially after the FarmRail thing.

Haha, that was classic... "Got 'eem!"

[LansingRailFan]

Railfan and Railroad September 2023 issue states that CN seeks to purge the remaining GP9 variants from its roster by the end of 2023 which includes 15 of the GP9Rs (4100 series) 26 yard switchers (7000s) 27 slugs (7200s) and six GTW GP9s (4600s).

Can’t trust everything they put out there, especially after the FarmRail thing.

Haha, that was classic... "Got 'eem!"

Big Mad! Guess he Should’ve gone to journalism school or something

[CSXBOY]

Meanwhile CSX is sending 105 flared SD70MACs for rebuilding in Huntington as of November 11th. I've never seen a rebuild program like this one CSX has going. Already got many Macs out and about. Now more are getting rebuilt.

[SD80MAC]

Progress Rail has started on the first SD75I rebuilds for CN. CN #5679 has been gutted, primed, and has received rehabbed trucks. These SD75ACCs (not heard if that's the official designation) are retaining their original cabs.

[Pylon]

Curious what drives whether the original wide cab is kept or not. E.g. CSX, NS, CP, and CN replaced the original wide cabs on their C44-9W and AC4400CW rebuilds with new ones (which is quite noticeable as the front door moved to the other side). UP kept the original cabs on their AC4400CW and AC6000CW rebuilds until recently - newer rebuilds have replaced the cab. BNSF kept the cabs on their AC44C4M rebuilds. CSX was also replacing the cabs on their original SD40-3, GP38-3, GP40-3, and SD40E3/SD33ECO programs, but didn't on their more recent GP40-3 and ET23DCM (SD23T4) programs.

[Man o' War]

Curious what drives whether the original wide cab is kept or not. E.g. CSX, NS, CP, and CN replaced the original wide cabs on their C44-9W and AC4400CW rebuilds with new ones (which is quite noticeable as the front door moved to the other side). UP kept the original cabs on their AC4400CW and AC6000CW rebuilds until recently - newer rebuilds have replaced the cab. BNSF kept the cabs on their AC44C4M rebuilds. CSX was also replacing the cabs on their original SD40-3, GP38-3, GP40-3, and SD40E3/SD33ECO programs, but didn't on their more recent GP40-3 and ET23DCM (SD23T4) programs.

I'm curious as well. I would have guessed that those near 28 year old cabs were candidates for replacement, but from the point of aesthetics, in my opinion, I'm glad they are being retained. A bit more appealing than the current boxy cabs to my eye.

Man o' War

[AARR]

Me too, I prefer the shape of the original cabs too although I understand the newer box cabs are safer for the crew which of course is more important.

, I'm glad they are being retained. A bit more appealing than the current boxy cabs to my eye.

Man o' War

[SD80MAC]

Likely being retained because A) they're already isolated cabs. They might receive new gaskets and snubbers, one would hope, and B) they are already equipped with regular AAR control stands. The NS rebuilds received new cabs to replace the original spartan cabs. Most of the GE rebuilds being done are replacing the older desktop equipped cabs with regular control stands. IIRC, the new Gevo-type cabs are also isolated, whereas Dash 9s and AC4400s weren't.

[David Collins]

IIRC, the new Gevo-type cabs are also isolated, whereas Dash 9s and AC4400s weren't.

I’m not so sure about this, I’ve heard crews complain that the CN/NS AC44C6M’s, which have GEVO cabs, shake a lot (I’ve even heard some crews compare them to a non-isolated cab SD70M-2’s/SD70ACe’s, which should be saying a lot), and they’re also very loud.

[SD80MAC]

Never said the isolation actually worked.

[Pylon]

I thought the old C44-9W/AC4400CW cabs were isolated, and the new ones (which were designed for the Evolution locos that have isolated prime movers) were the ones that weren't