New CN Heritage Units

[Super_G]

Looks like CN is adding some heritage units to their fleet. First one is a Grand Truck Western Unit.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

This Facebook group apperently is tracking the new units as they make it out into the wild.

https://www.facebook.com/GrandTrunkWesternTracker

So far it looks like the GTW locomotive is the only one out so far, but a BC Rail and an IC locomotive are not too far behind either.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Edit: Added the BC Rail and IC locomotive pictures.

[bnsfdash8]

From a "possible reliable" source on Facebook these are the units we should see coming:

Algoma Central
BC Rail (Red/White/Blue)
BC Rail (Two Tone Green)
Bessemer & Lake Erie (early Orange/Black)
CN Zebra Stripes
CN North America Map
CN original
Central Vermont (Black/Red)
Detroit, Toledo & Ironton
Duluth, Missabi & Iron Range
Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific (Deliver With Pride)
Elgin, Joliet & Eastern
Illinois Central Gulf (Orange/Charcol Grey)
Green Bay and Western (Early Red/White)
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio (red/white redbird scheme)
Grand Trunk Western
Illinois Central
Wisconsin Central

I guess we'll see what comes to fruition.

[C855B]

Cool! Looking forward to seeing 'em.

[Mark5]

Very cool, though I admit I was hoping for IC creamsickle 

[Philip H]

I am so doing all the IC ones

[lock4244]

From a "possible reliable" source on Facebook these are the units we should see coming:

Algoma Central
BC Rail (Red/White/Blue)
BC Rail (Two Tone Green)
Bessemer & Lake Erie (early Orange/Black)
CN Zebra Stripes
CN North America Map
CN original
Central Vermont (Black/Red)
Detroit, Toledo & Ironton
Duluth, Missabi & Iron Range
Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific (Deliver With Pride)
Elgin, Joliet & Eastern
Illinois Central Gulf (Orange/Charcol Grey)
Green Bay and Western (Early Red/White)
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio (red/white redbird scheme)
Grand Trunk Western
Illinois Central
Wisconsin Central

I guess we'll see what comes to fruition.

I've seen this artwork and it's almost guaranteed not to have originated from CN (according to some people inside CN), so take it with a grain of salt. First off, and ignoring the units depicted are all SD70M-2's, the BCOL unit shown is the later RWB, while the 3115 is clearly in the earlier RWB 'hockey stick' scheme. Also, given the 25 years decal on the GTW unit, assume it'll include roads acquired since privatization in 1995, so AC, DTI, GBW, GMO are likely out, and it seems unlikely they'll do two BCOL or IC images. As for CN heritage, there is already a ECO rebuild of CN 4702, now CN 4600 and a slug in the green and gold (look hideous fwiw) so seems less likely that they'll do any further CN units (no zebra, no CNNA).

It seems odd that they'd reach back to GMO but not do a Northern Alberta Rwy or Pacific Great Eastern unit. Why GBW but not Fox River Valley (obscure as it was, they did have that yellow and red scheme)? And no love for the Chicago Central & Pacific?

The list is bizarre once you sit down and think about it... but CN is a RR 

And then the really fun theory that WC was a big chunk of former SOO Line and all of the remaining DSSA, so why not a maroon and gold SOO or a yellow/green/red DSSA? 

Regardless, the GTW unit, 8952, left Toronto Oct12 in the wee hours on train 368 and should be near Montreal around daybreak.

[reinhardtjh]

The LocoNotes mail list has this:

CN has introduced Heritage paint schemes to their fleet - to eventually include 18 locomotives. These schemes will be close representations of the paint schemes worn by the railroads brought together through purchases and mergers, and will include previous CN schemes as well.

The first unit released was SD70M-2 8952 in a Grand Trunk Western scheme - it was painted by AMP in Danville, New York. Two other schemes imminent to release are ET44AC 3115 in BC Rail hockey stick and an unknown # ET44AC in Illinois Central deathstar scheme.

I'm not sure if the mother-slug sets being released from Progress Rail Tacoma that wear a modified CN green-yellow scheme are included in the official Heritage program.

Sean doesn't specify his sources, but he does have inside industry contacts.

[cv_acr]

I've seen this artwork and it's almost guaranteed not to have originated from CN

The artwork you're talking about that's been shared around extensively is some railfan's fantasy drawings that I saw online YEARS ago. Definitely don't take it as gospel.

Also the "possibly reliable" unofficial list of schemes is very suspiciously identical to the schemes on the graphic. So I'd take it with a grain of salt as well.

I'll believe a list that comes directly from a CN source/press release or just see as they come out.

[Lenny53]

Regardless, the GTW unit, 8952, left Toronto Oct12 in the wee hours on train 368 and should be near Montreal around daybreak.

There is a shot posted of it in Taschereau Yard, unit was said to be dead in tow when it arrived.

[lock4244]

The artwork you're talking about that's been shared around extensively is some railfan's fantasy drawings that I saw online YEARS ago. Definitely don't take it as gospel.

Also the "possibly reliable" unofficial list of schemes is very suspiciously identical to the schemes on the graphic. So I'd take it with a grain of salt as well.

I'll believe a list that comes directly from a CN source/press release or just see as they come out.

The CN heritage unit is 8898, fresh in the............. current scheme with the CN 25 Years decal. I mean, it looks great, being new paint and clean, but it's definitely not a zebra. It too was routed straight to Montreal.

[bnsfdash8]

Sent to me by a friend.

[learmoia]

BOCL, ????, IC, WC......

DT&I?... (on a GE? hard to tell)
.. or CN Red scheme (Tempo?) used on the RS18s?

never mind..

I'm guessing DT&I

They must have put "Illinois Central" on the hood of the death star loco..   

Meh..at least they aren't just slapping a bunch of logos randomly on the side of regularly painted locomotive....

[CR4100]

The orange unit is probably for the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern. Solid orange with silver fuel tank and trucks.

[cv_acr]

CN unveiled their FIVE heritage units in Montreal this week for the 25th anniversary of their privatization from government ownership.

https://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2020/11/17-cn-celebrates-25th-anniversary-of-privatization-unveils-heritage-locomotives

The five heritage schemes (plus a nominal current-scheme unit with the same 25th anniversary decal on the nose) are BC Rail, Grand Trunk Wester, Illinois Central, Wisconsin Central and Elgin, Joliet, & Eastern. (Representing major mergers since privatization plus GTW representing existing sub-units.)

That 18-unit list is officially delusional bunk.

[Super_G]

Sounds like Scaletrains may be looking into making the ET44's in the HU paint schemes.


https://www.facebook.com/scaletrains/posts/3585515898137561

For the GTW SD70M-2, it'd be a custom project with a Kato/FVM SD70ACe with the Trainworx detail kit and some 3D printed details. Best thing to do would be to follow what Recce (bnsfdash8) has done.

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=50752.msg685324#msg685324

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=50791.msg686197#msg686197

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=50836.msg686771#msg686771