Comments on: A scene on the Mac Yard power tracks finds GP40-2LW 9617 along with new SD70Is 5601, 5603 in primer and slug 259. Three of the 4 units remain on the roster. Slug 259, formerly CN 4609, originally NAR 211. 9617 would be off the CN roster the following year, sold in 1996 to HELM for use by KCS as 4715, later rebuilt to a GP40-3 and numbered KCS 2913. It remains in service as of 2021.

By: Jacob Patterson

Jacob Patterson — Sun, 31 Jul 2022 03:49:17 +0000

Neat. Thanks for digging into this Jason.

By: Noe

Noe — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 13:34:54 +0000

As it turns out, it was a mix of both GMDD and AMF painting them. I had to go back through some old Branchline magazines to confirm. CN 5600 was released fully painted in London on August 9, 1995. The two in Bruce’s photo, 5601 and 5603 were painted at AMF and were likely in transit there. CN 5601 entered service on 08/29/1995 and 5603 on 08/25/1995. CN 5606 was done at AMF as well.

On September 7, 1995 CN 432 departed London with 5607 and 5608 freshly painted in it’s consist. Why this one stands out is I remember myself and several others waiting for it at Kitchener that day. However, it didn’t arrive until dark unfortunately. The consist was CN 3533, 5607, 5608, 5080 and 7304. It was the first time any of us had seen the new CN SD70I’s.

By: bruce

bruce — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 00:04:45 +0000

I think built at London and painted at Alstom. Been wrong before.

By: Jacob Patterson

Jacob Patterson — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 16:45:29 +0000

Did it have something to do with Alstom? I’ve heard they had something to do with the SD70I/SD75I units but I’m not certain to what capacity.

By: bruce

bruce — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 16:36:31 +0000

Not that I know of.

By: Matthew Whiteley

Matthew Whiteley — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 13:00:17 +0000

Did they run them on freights while in primer?