CN siting in Cedar Rapids, IA

[BryGy]

Yesterday afternoon, I spotted CN #4021 (I believe it was a GP9RM). I only wish I had a camera with me at the time. I know that Illinois Central has a line through CR, but I didn't realize that CN had any equipment down this way.

My son (turned 2 yesterday) loved it. He couldn't stop talking about it all afternoon. Our house is close enough to the track that any time they blow the horn, we can hear it. Everytime Tyler hears the train, he says "Train Train, daddy." Lots of fun. http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif

Bry

P.S. Shane Stewart has a website we he has cataloged a number of CN Engines and Rolling stock. I figured that the engine that I saw was a GP9RM considering the fact that he has pics of #4017, #4019 and #4024. His website is http://stewart.railfan.net/index.html


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Smile!:p It makes people wonder what you are up to.

[CPRailfan]

I love that site. I live in Wisconsin and see lots of CP, but not much CN, and I've never seen any BC Rail in person, but Canadian railroads are some of my favorite, especially BCR. I hope to sometime visit British Columbia and have a train vacation.

Be careful, your son might want to be an engineer when he grows up http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif That's what happened to me.

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What's that?
A train horn?
Sorry, gotta go!

[Jack Doran]

I see that your going to have a little railfan there to BryGy. My friends have a two year old too. When he is over at there at his uncles house. He looks out the picture window and yell: Train Train, train tracks. He even do that that if I am wearing my train tee-shirt. When it is gone he will say train all gone. I usully get that look for his parents. Like you did this, you created this monster. Now my best friend (He is the uncle) and his wife has a daughter. I told them that I would crupt her too when she got older. I got that look again. I told them not to worry about it. The only only time they should start worrying will be when she asks for an electric train set instead of a barbie doll. http://www.trainboard.com/eek.gif

[This message has been edited by Jack Doran (edited 25 October 2000).]

[BryGy]

Fortunately for my son and myself, my brother-in-law got Tyler and myself started on trains. For Christmas last year, his uncle got him a CN SD40-2. And told him that every year he would get him something new.

Of course his unlce has also taught tyler a naughty four letter word.... "Ford"

I guess I just have to take the good with the bad.

Bry

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Smile!:p It makes people wonder what you are up to.

[Jack Doran]

I hear you there. Just wait it may backfire on him when he gets on enough to drive when he pulls up in the driveway with a mopar or a chevy. http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif

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Keep on railroad'n

[CPRailfan]

Hey BryGy, you should go over to the BNSF message board. There's a new topic about CN and BNSF. It tells why there's CN power in Cedar Rapids.

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What's that?
A train horn?
Sorry, gotta go!

[BryGy]

New siting in Cedar Rapids over the weekend. CN 4011, a GP9, was hauling a single gondola car of scrap metal into town. It is nice to finally see why the CN power is down here, check out this BNSF news (http://www.bnsf.com/media/html/what_s_new_1.html) for the details.

Man, I need to get a camera in the car and leave it there all the time.

Bry

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Smile! http://www.trainboard.com/smiles/068.gif
It makes people wonder what you are up to.

[Robin Matthysen]

Too true Bry, why is it, we never have a camera around when we could really use it. My son had no interest in trains when he was young. He loved sports and still plays some flag football these days.

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Robin
Maberly and Tayside (http://members.nbci.com/Matthyro/index.html)

[Robin Matthysen]

I found 4021 at trainscan web site.
Here it is
http://www.trainscan.com/cnlines/cycl/loco/gp9/img_4021.jpg
You are right. It is a GP9RM, classGR-418b
Rebuilt from GP9 4114:1 in 1983

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Robin
Maberly and Tayside (http://members.nbci.com/Matthyro/index.html)

[This message has been edited by Robin Matthysen (edited 20 November 2000).]

[BryGy]

You can now add CN #4009, a GP9RM, (http://www.trainscan.com/cnlines/cycl/loco/gp9/index.html#CN4009) to the roster of loco power hauling between to and from Cedar Rapids.

Still haven't gotten that camera.

Bry

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Smile! http://www.trainboard.com/smiles/068.gif
It makes people wonder what you are up to.

[BryGy]

Ok, I finally got some pictures developed
Here is CN #4009 parked outside the Illinois Central office in Cedar Rapids.

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1245443&a=10448894&p=35408390

Here is a snow plow, that I was actually surprised to see here. However, with Mondays blizzard and 12" of snow, I can see where it would be prudent to keep one around.

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1245443&a=10448894&p=35408386

In addition, I have other pictures at My Photo Albums at Photopoint.com (http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=1245443) and will be getting others of some Union Pacific, Illinois Central, CRANDIC and other miscellaneous stuff. There is also a Loram Track Maintenance engine and equipment parked by the UP offices. Some pretty cool stuff. Much more to come

Bry

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Smile! http://www.trainboard.com/smiles/068.gif
It makes people wonder what you are up to.
Bry's Photopoint.com Album (http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=1245443)

[This message has been edited by BryGy (edited 13 December 2000).]

[Robin Matthysen]

Great pictures Bry. I have never seen a snow plow like that before. Very interesting.

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Robin member #35
http://www.trainboard.com/smiles/096.gif

Maberly and Tayside (http://members.nbci.com/Matthyro/index.html)

[DaveCN5710]

Neat Pics Bry . Does the IC line go anywhere else in Iowa besides Cedar Rapids ?

[BryGy]

The IC line terminates part of a branch line here in Cedar Rapids. It is actually the Chicago Central & Pacific RR, a subsidiary of IC. The CC&P goes all the way across the state from Sioux City to Waterloo then Dubuque. You can check out a maps of all the Rail service in Iowa at the Iowa DOT Rail site (http://www.dot.state.ia.us/rail/).

I would love to see some larger CN power come down into Cedar Rapids, but I am guessing that there just isn't enough traffic to justify some high horsepower down this way. :(

Bry

[DaveCN5710]

Actually I see those GP9's in Sarnia Yard switching all the time . Some of those units are even operated by a Belt Pack . The units that are Belt Pack operated have a red flashing light on top of the locomotive .

It sure is strange seeing CN power in Iowa smile.gif