Caption: One thing I must say is I often have a habit of doing something, just before it changes , without knowing it is about to change. This is another of those occasions. In 17 or so years going to Sarnia trotting around the industrial areas with a camera I've only managed to see something here twice, and yeah, it's private property, but the roads wide open, get a quick shot and don't loiter. Right? It was right in front of me after all. This engine, Electro-Motive Canada 1, formerly GMD 117 nee EMD 117, SW1001 built in 1979 by .. EMD, was once based out of London at the GM plant, and while I saw the damn thing in London you'd think i'd have a photo of it, I did tour the damn plant twice but I didn't get it on camera then. So this was my opportunity as it's been assigned here for years and engines are normally parked at the security gate. Obviously it's not owned by EMD anymore in this picture, in fact it is owned by Lambton Diesel Services of Sarnia. What changed? They painted the damn thing so this "Quality Built Locomotives for the 21'st century - 50 years" commemorative scheme is now gone. It's now in typical Black dip LDS paint and now numbered 1001, so I found out this past weekend. While I don't regret that I have shots of it to share, this piece of EMD/GMDD history is basically not the same. Anyway, this is Imperial Oil plant #3 which makes plastics, and they previously had ex CN 7920 here before this in a nice Esso scheme - Jay told me a story (might be on this site) that after taking this picture security tapped on his shoulder and told him off. Brave soul as engines are parked right beside the gate. Today 1001 and 1391 (ex JLCX) are parked in the same spot.

Oh and about 7920, they swapped it with #1 like 8 or so years ago and 7920 languished beside the LDS shop, in this paint scheme largely untouched. On the weekend I noted the ESSO logo is now blanked out (primer) and the prime mover has been removed from 7920 so it seems to have been used for a major transplant recently. Oh well, get your shots, because change is always just around the corner.

I still wish I got a good shot of #1 at GMDD London, but the one time I took pictures of the EMD plant in London, I see a trackmobile in the photo attached to a large new primer locomotive.. so I'm debating when it was taken out of service in London or when last used. Comment below if you know.