Ive been researching locations for my layout, and came across good ole Minnesota. A little bit of everything, BNSF, UP, CN, and CP, also DMIR. On railpictures.net, they list DMIR under fallen flags, is that true? Because alot of pics i see of 2005, all the way up to, well, yesterday, has DMIR units in the pics. And some have CN rolling thru, or CN patches. Did CN buy them up? Whats the deal? THanks, ben
The DM&IR was acquired by Canadian National Railway on 5/10/04.
Details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duluth,_Missabe_and_Iron_Range_Railway
CN merged them into themselves just as they did with GT, WC and IC. All the CN fallen flags exist, and that’s why you see CN units with GTW/IC/WC/DMIR sub lettering.
You got it they are now a part of the CN.[:(][:(]
Thanks alot guys, also, it didnt look like the DMIR units currently were patched or anything, CN i guess hasnt gotten around to all the units or they just dont care? The Wikepedia link was great too, except, am i really dumb or why do the wikepedia have GTW and SOO as Current Class 1 rr?
Somebody can correct me if I’m wrong, but part of the reason that CN hasn’t really changed any of the DMIR equipment is because they’ve found the the DMIR stuff really works in that area, and most of the foriegn(aka CN) locomotives and equipment they’re tried hasn’t worked well. If I remember right it has something to do with the air hose connections.
I only wish I could make it up to the Duluth area to chase the remaining DMIR, but My parents aren’t into railfanning like I am. It doesn’t look good for me ever getting up there for at least 3 years really.
Noah
Most of the remaining DM&IR engines are still running around with their original paint. My understanding is that at least one of the ‘tunnel motors’ has been repainted though. The ex-Missabe engines are equipped with the high air lines(to match the ore cars) and ‘straight air’ retainers needed for decending Proctor Hill to the ore docks. Some Missabe equipment has been sold/scrapped, and I beleive a lot of the infastructure has been closed or scaled back. You might want to look for the Missabe Historical web site for more info.
Jim
Jim
The locomotives you see now belong to the CN[V]. Most of DMIR’s locos are SD45T-2s and SD40-3. The DMIR has lost many SDM’s such as the SD18 and the SD9’s both high and low nose. The NorthShore Scenic Railroad in Duluth has one of the last running SD18 low nose units running on there tourist railroad. There are probably a couple left but will disappear with the years and all the DMIR locos will probably be painted CN just like the SD45T-2’s 401 and 402.
James
Just a technical point but DMIR’s SD40-3’s are rebuilt SD45T-2’s and SD45-2’s (18 T-2’s and 2 45-2’s) and are no longer actually SD45T-2’s. Also from the info I’ve heard and pictures I’ve seen, Missabe’s SD38’s and SD38-2’s are mostly still on the property but some have wandered elsewhere on CN’s system and one or two of the straight 38’s have been scrapped.
most of the DMIR engines now have CN patches. Last I heard, one of the B&LE tunnel motors from here was on DMIR tracks. CN bought DMIR and B&LE in the same transaction, but so far, nothing has changed on the Bessemer except for a small “www.cn.ca” on the hoppers.
The CN bought all of GLT basically for a 17-mile stretch of DM&IR track in Minnesota. It’s part of the same business plan that had them buy the WC - To be able go directly between Western Canada and the Midwest, and then down to New Orleans by way of the former IC, all on their own track. That way, nobody can pull it out from under them.
Their alternatives would be to either use their competitor’s track, or go all the way around the Great Lakes to Sarnia/Detroit and then double back on the GTW. It’s not hard to understand why CN wouldn’t like to be forced into either of those two options.
But at the same time, the CN in frugal in some ways and isn’t about to re-paint a loco that doesn’t need it. Since the DM&IR equipment has been well-maintained, you’ll see the locos repainted only when they really need it, or during a major shopping. Think about it, there are still a lot of WC and IC locos still in their old colors.
Years ago, the CN formed the Grand Trunk Corporation as a holding company for their US railroad properties. It’s just a guess on my part, but if the GTC still exists, even if only on paper, that could be why the GTW is listed as a Class 1. Not sure about the Soo, though
Steve
Remaining SOO stock was picked up by CP in the 80’s. The property was formally meger into CP in the 90’s. Previous, CP has owned 44% of SOO stock since 1888(payment for a consolidation loan and guarentee of traffic).
Jim
Both Soo Line and GTC still exists as both CP and CN have to have separate US subsidiaries to control their US lines. This is for both STB, FRA, and especially IRS purposes. In addition these subsidiaries may have further subsidiaries since it may be cheaper than the costs to further merge the lines together, this is usually due to tax laws. So the situation for CN is GTC is the holding company for all their US lines, GTW, WCL, IC, DM&IR, and B&LE still exists as subsidiaries of GTC. The DW&P was merged into the WCL. For CP, the US subsidiary is Soo Line Corp. which has two subsidiaries the Soo Line Railroad, and the Delaware and Hudson Railroad.
Railroads bought the locos designed for the region they used them in.
Very true for steam, Diesels are a little more generic, but lke the ore cars specialized in their ways.
You are correct with the air hose issues. The missabe set up much of its equipment with special air connections ( mini-quads) and difco dump cars with straght air. Only four of the tunnel moters have been painted so far. I think another will be soon. The SD38-2 could very possibly be painted down the line.