Comments on: CN A434 sits on the North at Brantford after completing their set off of 36 cars for the SOR. 434 would have to wait upon Via 78 and Via 79 before being able to proceed East. Leading tonight was GECX 9135, probably one of the cleaner patched out ex CSX C40-8W’s I have seen. Special thanks to Kyle Stefanovic for the heads up on this one.

By: Marcus Stevens

Marcus Stevens — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 20:21:45 +0000

Now that’s a nice catch!

By: Alexander Medora

Alexander Medora — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 01:29:46 +0000

told me*

By: Alexander Medora

Alexander Medora — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 01:29:23 +0000

They are ugly as sin, and a London crew told they weren’t fit for man or beast.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 20:36:50 +0000

perhaps but I have my doubts – CN won’t keep these forever and have plenty of capable lead units – personal observations of the last lease era (ending around 2009) indicated that sometimes the ‘unleadables’ will ultimately lead in rare circumstances. The best example is CEFX “yellow” sd40-2′s (with red nose stripes) which did lead in Ontario for the lucky couple of people that were able to photograph it… they changed power in London (CP) though on the one instance I am aware of.

DM&E engines led on CP and weren’t supposed to – it’s just a roll of the dice of crew preferences and comfort levels.

Be glad it’s happening and be sure to get it when it happens, Joe, great work bagging this! If these continue into summer we have a shot at full sun daylight shots on the Halton sub and I am looking forward to the opportunity.

By: Joseph Bishop

Joseph Bishop — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 20:20:00 +0000

Well this is the third one of these to lead in Ontario since January. Not all that common, but I guess it saved the crew time at London to not have to wye the power.

Who knows, perhaps these have had hotplates installed.

By: Alexander Medora

Alexander Medora — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 20:12:27 +0000

I was told these GECX units were not to be used as leaders in Canada.

By: Joseph Bishop

Joseph Bishop — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 19:43:52 +0000

Typically they like to have the SOR run light power from Paris to Brantford and make their train there. There are days where 434 works Paris too, typically if they work Paris it is when there is also a lift for them there as well. Yesterday a different Eastbound lifted Toronto traffic and they got to work Brantford instead.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 13:11:28 +0000

Depends on how full both yards are, and ultimately it’s up to Car Control to dictate that.

By: BradKetchen

BradKetchen — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 12:51:37 +0000

Very nice! I thought they set off at Paris for SOR?