Tuesday, January 27, 2009
RS-18s in Bathurst
I hear that there are four RS-18s working out of Bathurst now... NBEC 1821, 1849, 1851 and 1868. I understand the CN GP40s were not really suitable for the ore train run, so perhaps CN is putting the RS-18s back for now until they can find a better engine. Wouldn't it be great if the best engine for the job WAS an RS-18?
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8 comments:
It would be nice if they could stick around until next summer when I take my holidays. For now I'll have to get my father and sister to snap some shots for me. Thanks for the update.
Cheers,
Jason
where do the rails to the right of the picture lead to? It looks like the rail is disconnected.
The rails to the right lead to the track for the former Smurfit-Stone mill. You can see the beginning of the siding where NBEC and Smurfit used to interchange cars. The Smurfit engine and caboose would come from the mill, do the exchange with NBEC train 597 (the yard job) then go back to the mill.
These days that siding is used for storage.
Oh, and there is a derail there before the switch - that's why it looks disconnected. Most derails are devices that lay on top of the rail, but this one actually breaks the rail to divert runaway cars.
thanks! Thats an interesting way to have a derail. Ive always seen the yellow or orange derail devices that sit on top of the rails.
I've this in one other location besides the one the Bathurst Spur. On the Mayland Heights Spur here in Calgary that services a few industries in the area such as The Calgary Herald, a feed mill, and various others. The spur comes off of the north/south mainline between Calgary and Edmonton, crosses Barlow Trail and up the hill at a very steep grade across the street from the building I work in. I can actually see the conductor switch the derail from my desk. I'll have take some pictures of this spur and write up a post on my blog over the weekend about this spur. Stay tuned.
Cheers,
Jason
The RS18 4stroke powerplant is probably much easier on fuel and is lighter given the condition of the line! I remember Century 630`s 6 axle going up but the newer 4000hp CN locos seem to be overkill given the train goes up mostly empty and comes down on the brakes! wasting more fuel just idling the big 2 strokes..
They should be using GP9`s with dynamic brakes,that would prevent or slow down any chance at another runaway on the line?
The old Mill line has about 25-30 Autorack cars stored there since november and also pulp cars no doubt due to the downturn in the economy?
DRC, autoracks and pulp cars are stored all over North America these days. I think the railways started storing autoracks a couple of years ago. Hopefully things will pick up soon.
I remember the Smurfit siding used to have boxcars stored there... things change.
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