Yet Another Engine Arriving

The New Brunswick Southern Railway is getting yet another engine. Luc Doiron reported that GMTX 203 was in CN's Gordon Yard in Moncton yesterday, coupled up to CN 5748. Here's his photo.

Thanks for permission to use the photo, Luc.

GMTX 203 is an MP15DC, built in August 1976. The unit was recently rebuilt at the Progress Rail shops in Tacoma, Washington. Before that it worked on the Alaska Railroad for about two decades as ARR 1551.

These units are fairly similar to NB Southern's existing SW1200RS switchers NBSR 3702 and NBSR 3703. The MP15 does have an EMD 645-series engine, like NB Southern's Geep fleet, whereas the SW1200RS has the 567-series engine.

Word has it that another MP15 is coming from GMTX at some point.

NB Southern is really going to have some colourful consists!

Viewer Video: GEVO Central

Matt aka saintjohnrailfan posted a video of CN 406 featuring two shiny new GEVO units, and our mutual friend Luc D at the controls!

The video was shot near mile 61, which is near Moosehorn a little south of Norton.

News from Saint John

I'll get to the NB Southern excursion later, but here are a few tidbits from Saint John.


I saw CN 405 pull up to the Tim Hortons yesterday afternoon at 12:30. The conductor popped out of the nose door, and yelled hello to me. Turns out I know him well! :) It was Luc Doiron, new employee of CN back home in the Maritimes.


I did see NB Southern's new slug in Island Yard, NBSR 2008. I'm told it is YBU-4 (yard booster unit), ex-CN 519, retired on January 3 2008. It was not in a good position for photography but I got enough to confirm the number. I'm told it will be paired up with an ex-Devco unit, one of the 231x units, and it will be used in Saint John but the intent is to try it on the mainline freight to see if it can assist on the hills.


CN 7010 was doing some shunting in Island Yard after 405 left.