Would Somebody Kindly Identify This CN Loco for Me?

[C855B]

It's an evening of mystery, evidently. I am working on a presentation for this Saturday, "24 Hours in Centralia", explaining local railroad operations to a general audience. In reviewing one of the time-lapse clips, I spotted this:



I swear that third unit looks like some manner of tunnel motor. Since when did CN have tunnel motors? Enquiring minds want to know. Sorry to not catch the number; CN runs too fast through town for clear frames on the video. (Nice Death Star paint on the lead units, though!)

[Chris333]

Looks like SD50 or 60 ex IC.

[wcfn100]

I think it's a DM&IR SD40-3.


Jason

[Chris333]

I counted 3RD from the wrong end 

[C855B]

I think it's a DM&IR SD40-3.

Rebuilt foobie model numbers don't count.   So it must have originally been an ex-SP SD40T-2, then? 45T-2?

Can't tell the players without a program these days. Thanks. Caught me by surprise, obviously.

[GaryHinshaw]

As Jason notes, it appears to be a DMIR SD40-3 rebuilt by VMV, from SP lineage.  They still wear DMIR reporting marks, sometimes conspicuously:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2344332

sometimes not:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=799326

These were even offered in N:

http://www.intermountain-railway.com/n/html/69511.htm

[reinhardtjh]

Trains has the answer:

http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2015/04/cn-begins-repainting-bessemer--lake-erie-motive-power

Picture link (not sure if it works for non Trains subscribers. Sorry):


For non-subscribers:

CENTRALIA, Illinois – Canadian National has released the first former Bessemer & Lake Erie SD40-3 from the paint shop in CN’s corporate paint scheme. B&LE No. 902 was sent to Quality Rail Services in Venice for rebuilding and repainting

The 11 former B&LE SD40-3s, numbered BLE Nos. 900-910, were rebuilt in 1999 and 2000 from former Southern Pacific and St. Louis Southwestern SD45T-2s

[GaryHinshaw]

Ah yes, given the Centralia dateline those would almost certainly be the units.  Same lineage as the DMIR units, but newer repaints.

[reinhardtjh]

I would think so. If you look carefully at the webcam shot you can see the "BLE" markings on the cab.  They are still illegible but they match the picture and if you squint your eyes and do a fuzzy compare, the road number looks like it's probably correct.

[C855B]

Thanks, guys! I didn't realize it was "news"... hmm... so I caught it coming out of the paint shop. Yeah, we see CN's soup-to-nuts roster here on account of their repaint program. Makes for fun trainwatching.

John, the link worked, but only gets the picture and a partial article. Who is credited with the photo?

[reinhardtjh]

John, the link worked, but only gets the picture and a partial article. Who is credited with the photo?

It's not specific, but the name "Joe Ferguson" is posted below the picture.  It doesn't say anything like "picture by" but the name is positioned close enough that I assume is the photographer's name.

[Spikre]

 
   still looks like an SD45T-2,but its now only 3000 HP ?
   these rebuilds can be annouying !!
       Spikre