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Rumor has it that CN is looking into swapping power between the IC and the EJ&E. Four geeps, two of which are blue GTWs, as well as a repainted GTW and a repainted IC, made their way down to Joliet Yard last night. It sounds like the SW1200s at Joliet will soon be retired due to the new geeps. It is also likely CN will send another group of engines to Kirk Yard to replace the SDMs, the switchers and the SD18 that currently work there. Also, EJ&E 650 is now working on the IC between Homewood and Kankakee. It was supposed to go back to the J but CN sent a surprize from Woodcrest instead. CN SD40u 6011 is now assigned to the EJ&E in 650's place.

More retirements, DM&IR 210, DM&IR 213, IC 6005, IC 6010, IC 6052, IC 6060 and the killer of them, IC 6071, the former prototype SD40, built on a SD35 frame.

Lets hope CN has the foresight to send 6071 to a museum. I'm sure they will, given two of the, much less significant, WC 45s were donated.

Gregg Pullano wrote:Lets hope CN has the foresight to send 6071 to a museum. I'm sure they will, given two of the, much less significant, WC 45s were donated.

Good idea, Better yet SBS-LSRC, That would be super nice, They would probably get it for a good price, Hint-Hint Mr George Sir.

That would be nice if the 6071 was send to a museum. WC 7525 could use another classic EMD to go along with it! On another note, two more significant engines have been stored, both recently purchased in the EJ&E merger. Neither should come as a surprized. First is EJ&E SD18 616, the last high-nose unit that the J operated. The other is EJ&E SD38 650, the class unit of the EJ&E SD38s/SD38-2s. It is not a surprize that either one of these are in storage as the 616 is simply too much of a oddball, and the 650 is a non -2 SD38. CN hasn't been too kind to the DM&IR SD38s. Hopefully both get saved, especially the 616.

It's official, EJ&E SD38 650 was officially retired off the CN roster today. 650 is the first J engine to get the official boot from the roster, T-2 and 616 are still listed as stored.

I hope someone, maybe a shortline, goobles up those SD38's!

I would expect the 654 to be retired soon as well. However, the SD38-2s and the SD38-2s that are technically SD38-3s seem to be safe for now, as CN has been using them on various portions of their system in the midwest, as well as on the EJ&E tracks.

Also, GTW GP38-2 4919 was working the Phoenix local yesterday, which would normally have two SW1200s. GTW GP38-2 4927 was spotted on the South Chicago local. Third, repainted GTW GP9R 4610 was spotted working on the Lakefront Line. Expect the SDMs to be retired soon as more of these GTWs and perhaps some ICs show up.

Ok, time for a new update on CN retirements. First, one of the NBEC SD40s hs been sold to the DMVW. Three more NBEC SD40s, three BC Rail SD40-2s and several CN SD50Fs have been relettered to ASDX. Unfortunatly ASDX would be a scrapper, so looks like a lot of the stuff in the auction look to be going for scrap so far.

EJ&E 654 is now stored, along with all the EJ&E switchers, slugs, SDMs and SD18s. Basically anything EJ&E that isn't a SD38-2 or GP38-2 is stored or retired.

i was told that 63 or so of the engine for sale have been sold to ASDX......

It looks like ASDX is getting quite a few of the SD50Fs, NBEC/CFMG SD40s and assorted BCOL stuff that is in the deadline.

Wisconsin Great Northern, a tourist line, purchased DM&IR 200 and WC 6006, so both of those have been saved. Looks like about all the CN SD50Fs, BCOL SD40-2s, CFMG/NBEC SD40s and some of the Alcos are going to ASDX for scrap in Georgia, and Also to JLCX, whih would be JABCO in Chicago Heights, another scrapper.

A pair of IC SW14s, along with CN 7033 were at Kirk Yard as I went past there on AMTK 354. There was also the former IC 1460 working as a switcher at the intermodal ramps down near 35th Street.

Yep, CN replaced the EJ&E SDMs with the IC SW14s, and they normally use GTW power for the local jobs out of Kirk. Former DM&IR 200 and formerWC SD40-2 6006 have been spotted heading to their new owner, the Wisconsin Great Norther. I really hope they stay in thir current schemes and aren't painted in fictional GN paint.

One of the exCN SD50F's is in a new coat of paint..apparently the 70's are back.. Montana Limestone SD50F# 5404..exCN 5404.
Dave C

I heard a rumor that DM&IR 214 has been scrapped on site at Homewood, which would be the first SD38 to be scrapped. Hopefully this doesn't mean the DM&IRs and EJ&E 650 getting scrapped. 650 recieved a new prime mover last year so it would be a shame if itwere scrapped, and a waste of a rebuilding.

This would also mean CN has resumed scrapping of engines at Homewood, which would be bad news for anything stored there.

Sad to see WC 6002 and 6003 go. Were those in WC paint? I saw 6004 in Durand about five years ago. Is 6004 still around? I also saw WC 6003 a different time. That was back in the day when it was not uncommon to see a WC GTW and CNW (i know not CN but seen pictures of CNW at Durand).

Another photo that struck me was I found in my photo album from several years ago(no date). It had one of Cental Michigan's C30-7's. I think it was 5086. I have a picture of that unit going down the Chicago Wye headed to Detroit with a BNSF coal drag! Those were the days!!

6004 was still at homewood about two months ago. the 6002 and 03 are on the Wheeling and lake erie..

6002 and 6003 are on the W&LE, back in operation in neatly patched WC paint. 6006 went to the Wisconsin Great Northern Railway, a tourist operation in Central Wisconsin. 6004 and 6005 are still stored. Three of the five WC SD40-2s have been saved so far. The only operating WCs on CN are the few GP40s not stored and the GP38-2s which operate on the old BC Rail lines, as well as maybe one or two SW1500s. Fortunatly WC SD45 7525 is saved and operational at the Illinois Railway Museum.

The only ICs left are the SD70s, GP40Rs, a few GP38-2s, a few 6200 series SD40-3s and a few SW14s, as well as the two E9s in IC paint.

DM&IR SD38-2s 211 and 213, as well as SD40-3 403 are he only maroon DM&IRs in operation.

GTW power is still plentiful, with numerous GP38-2s and GP9s left.

DMIR SD38# 214 was scrapped last week..FYI..
Dave C

Yes, it is confirmed that DM&IR SD38 214 was turned ino razor blades at Woodcrest. That would be the first SD38 to be dismantled at Homewood. Hopefully not a sign of things to come. 214 was listed in this last auction, as well as the one previous to this one and sat in the deadline for over a year. It's former EJ&E 655, so that's the first of the J SD38 fleet to be history in a way too.