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After photographing CN 1439 working Hamilton during March I figured that was likely the last GMD-1 I would photograph as it was the only one remaining in active service in Ontario. This had followed the news that CN had retired all of its Ontario assigned GMD-1’s earlier the same month. And while photos emerged of them still idling away and seemingly still being kept in operating condition at MacMillan Yard, the likelihood of retired units on CN receiving a second chance at service didn’t seem all that plausible. 

Then on April 21, a photo of CN 1437 surfaced at Kitchener having been set-off by 533 at the yard hours prior. While speculation swirled about the circumstances of this, the reality was CN L540 began using it to switch the yard along with CN 4131 later that afternoon. Then that same night, CN L566 was assigned 1437 and 4131 and headed north to Elmira on the Waterloo Spur with three tankers. Having just missed the train in Uptown Waterloo at 23:15 I was left with a simple choice of going home to bed or continuing the pursuit to Elmira where the only other photos were possible. I mean how often does one get to chase a retired GMD-1 in the dark….as logically this really shouldn’t even be happening in the first place.

Elmira is an extremely quiet place at night. Even with both chemical  companies purring away the wee hours of the new day, the only sounds heard while I waited for 566 to complete its first set of switching moves, were the flags outside the Lanxess facility flapping impatiently in the chilly night air. Finally at 01:00, 1437’s headlights began inching closer and eventually L566 came to stop beside the Lanxess plant as the crew prepared to uncouple the power and run-around their tankers. With my tripod set-up I clicked away in the darkness hoping to get something as this was the last opportunity to get 1437 leading before it would be coupled to waiting cars at Lanxess. I had time for just four exposures, one seen here, before the crew would runaround and switch ends to 4131, which would lead L566 back to Kitchener. 

The following night on April 23, CN L566 set-off 1437 in St. Jacobs on their next trip north to Elmira and that same day the Waterloo Central Railway had officially announced that CN had graciously donated the retired but still operational GMD-1 to the organization. While now officially off the CN roster, 1437 has a bright future ahead as it enjoys retirement no longer moving freight, instead future passengers on a spur it can now say it had led its final CN train over.
Copyright Notice: This image ©Jason Noe all rights reserved.



Caption: After photographing CN 1439 working Hamilton during March I figured that was likely the last GMD-1 I would photograph as it was the only one remaining in active service in Ontario. This had followed the news that CN had retired all of its Ontario assigned GMD-1’s earlier the same month. And while photos emerged of them still idling away and seemingly still being kept in operating condition at MacMillan Yard, the likelihood of retired units on CN receiving a second chance at service didn’t seem all that plausible.
Then on April 21, a photo of CN 1437 surfaced at Kitchener having been set-off by 533 at the yard hours prior. While speculation swirled about the circumstances of this, the reality was CN L540 began using it to switch the yard along with CN 4131 later that afternoon. Then that same night, CN L566 was assigned 1437 and 4131 and headed north to Elmira on the Waterloo Spur with three tankers. Having just missed the train in Uptown Waterloo at 23:15 I was left with a simple choice of going home to bed or continuing the pursuit to Elmira where the only other photos were possible. I mean how often does one get to chase a retired GMD-1 in the dark….as logically this really shouldn’t even be happening in the first place.
Elmira is an extremely quiet place at night. Even with both chemical companies purring away the wee hours of the new day, the only sounds heard while I waited for 566 to complete its first set of switching moves, were the flags outside the Lanxess facility flapping impatiently in the chilly night air. Finally at 01:00, 1437’s headlights began inching closer and eventually L566 came to stop beside the Lanxess plant as the crew prepared to uncouple the power and run-around their tankers. With my tripod set-up I clicked away in the darkness hoping to get something as this was the last opportunity to get 1437 leading before it would be coupled to waiting cars at Lanxess. I had time for just four exposures, one seen here, before the crew would runaround and switch ends to 4131, which would lead L566 back to Kitchener.
The following night on April 23, CN L566 set-off 1437 in St. Jacobs on their next trip north to Elmira and that same day the Waterloo Central Railway had officially announced that CN had graciously donated the retired but still operational GMD-1 to the organization. While now officially off the CN roster, 1437 has a bright future ahead as it enjoys retirement no longer moving freight, instead future passengers on a spur it can now say it had led its final CN train over.

Photographer:
Jason Noe [916] (more) (contact)
Date: 04/22/2021 (search)
Railway: Canadian National (search)
Reporting Marks: CN 1437 (search)
Train Symbol: CN L566 (search)
Subdivision/SNS: Waterloo Spur (search)
City/Town: Elmira (search)
Province: Ontario (search)
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4 Comments
  1. Thanks for posting, i wonder if any other GMD-1s are still kicking across the system or if 1437 was the last one to operate.

  2. Great work man! Glad you documented this.

  3. ……..unbelievable

  4. Thanks for all the comments guys.

    According to a comment on one of Steve’s photos of 1437 debuting on WCR, this was the last active one as of April. Time will tell if this will become the last CN GMD-1 to ever lead a CN train in Canada.

    See comment below.

    “1405 and 1438 are the only 2 left on the roster. 1405 is BO pending decision, 1438 is in short term storage (mechanical reasons)… so it’s not looking good. Both are in Winnipeg”

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