Canadian Railroads > C40-8M Swan Song?

Reports floating around that CN confirmed the Dash 8-40CM barns (BCOL ones included) will be retired once all the new GE's arrive on the property. Anyone have any truth to this? TIA.

Joe Tarantine

fatnrat Wrote:
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> Reports floating around that CN confirmed the Dash
> 8-40CM barns (BCOL ones included) will be retired
> once all the new GE's arrive on the property.
> Anyone have any truth to this? TIA.
>
> Joe Tarantine

I have not heard this, even as a very speculative railfan rumour. it's certainly possible though.

Michael

There seems to be a lot of BC Rail units south of the border, perhaps congregating for retirement. Today on the eastern forum is a short clip of BCOL 4604 & 4606 pushing a coal train over Sandpatch. Thought it was odd these two units together on a push.  Doug

All the GM cowl / "Draper Taper" units have been retired now, I assume the GEs will be the next to go. I know the operating crews prefer a unit with walkways for better rear visibility, not sure how much of a difference it makes for the maintenance crews to work on them. I also wonder how many of the components would CN keep for spares for the rest of their Dash 8 fleet. Would they bother installing the split cooling kits and EFI engines in the BCR units into the standard cab and CW Dash 8s? Gonna miss the look of those Dofasco ZWT-3 trucks....

Mike N.

Helo-Mech Wrote:
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> All the GM cowl / "Draper Taper" units have been
> retired now, I assume the GEs will be the next to
> go. I know the operating crews prefer a unit with
> walkways for better rear visibility, not sure how
> much of a difference it makes for the maintenance
> crews to work on them. I also wonder how many of
> the components would CN keep for spares for the
> rest of their Dash 8 fleet. Would they bother
> installing the split cooling kits and EFI engines
> in the BCR units into the standard cab and CW Dash
> 8s? Gonna miss the look of those Dofasco ZWT-3
> trucks....
>
> Mike N.

The ex. CNW and Santa Fe C40-8's on the CN roster already have the split cooling modifications, I can't see an engine transplant being viable but I guess anything is possible.

-Trevor

Many of the cowl Dash 8's also now have the split-cooling mod.

Bill Miller
Galt, ON

CCMF Wrote:
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> Many of the cowl Dash 8's also now have the
> split-cooling mod.

The 26 C40-8Mu (4601-4626) were upgraded by BC Rail between 1995 and 2003.  That included not only split cooling but modifying electronics to Dash 9 and uprating from 4000hp to 4400hp effectively making them a "Dash 9-44C".

They may have more life in them then they appear.

d.