Anyone know if CN is having a power shortage recently? I do a lot of trainwatching at Dorval, Quebec, where the main CN and CP east/west lines pass. Over the last week or two, I've noticed a lot of non-CN power, and some of the CN that I've seen looks as if it's been taken out of a semi-retired pile somewhere....dirty, rusty, generally beat-up looking. I've seen GATX, CSX, IC (owned by CN but unusual around here), and a few BCRail (not too uncommon). I even saw one coming up from the south that had 2 black Norfolk Southern Dash-8s leading with an old CN loco in third position! Also, the total number of CN trains seems to be down. Any information? Dave.
Wish I could help you. But I've no information to offer. It does seem odd, to note the number of trains being down. And a possible power shortage at the same time. A reduced number of trains, usually means a greater availability of power. So, now you have me curious! Boxcab E50
Dave, Those haven't been pulled out of a dead line somewhere, CN is running its power until it won't run anymore and then instead of repairing the locomotives, is simply retiring them contributing to the power shortage. CN is so sort of power that many times working a yard job at Lynn Creek or Thornton yards in Vancouver we've switched with CPR engines that come in on co-production trains. You'd almost think CN didn't want to run trains, the way they're getting rid of motive power.
Ya, it seems every other train running around the Seattle area has a CN unit in the consist. They must owe ALOT of hours, 'cause it's been like this for some time!!
Sounds kinda' like the Milwaukee Road in the seventies. Is CN lookin' to be just a mid-Canada only railroad, so another railroad will pick it up? BNSF is still pretty buddy-buddy with them, and BNSF might like a smaller, tidy, eastern Canada route from the Atlantic to the Pacific for cross-continent container trade. Hmmm, kinda' far fetched, but not within' reason?
I caught a couple of CN units down here in Arizona last week. I just figured there were beansniff units up there doing the same.
Just heard that CN will be retiring the SD50F's. All I can say is I will not miss them, cabs are trashed, they have nice thick oil slicks on the engineroom walkways, and almost every one I got on a train had BO dynamics or a traction motor cut out. They also have 0 visability out the back and can't be run long hood forward. Good riddance to them. I'd take a pair of worn out SD40-2W's over the SD50F's any day.
"I've seen GATX, CSX, IC (owned by CN but unusual around here), and a few BCRail (not too uncommon). I even saw one coming up from the south that had 2 black Norfolk Southern Dash-8s leading with an old CN loco in third position!" I think I saw those NS units today heading for Jolliet at the Le Gardeur bridge (Charlemagne/Montreal). Pulling a lot of wood racks. Weird to see such power on this line! Dave B. PAT Montreal