A few weeks ago I made my first journey to CN’s Pokegama Yard in Superior, and after getting permission from whoever that nice fellow was in the general offices there, I snapped a few photos of two EJ&E SD38-2’s idling just behind the office.
Does CN use SD38-2’s over the road out of Pokegama? Or do they use them just for pusher service or maybe just transfer runs? The reason I ask is SD38-2’s are often used for hump yard operation and I don’t think Pokegama is a hump yard (didn’t see a whole lot of the yard when I was there).
The J units are primarily used for transfer power and helper units getting up Steelton Hill. With the mass exodus out of Pokegama, only two of the units remain stationed at Pokey, while 674 is now up in Keenan Yard near Iron Junction, MN. Here’s a few pictures and videos of the J units in action around the Pokegama area, mainly heading to and from Itasca Yard.
Sure wish I would have known is was that easy to get shots in Pokegama, though. The only time I ventured down that way I found signs on both signs of the road warning against trespassers. Perhaps I would have been able to catch 669, the only one that past through I haven’t gotten yet(aside from 674, which I should snag at some point soon).
I just took Hwy. 105 west off US Hwy. 35 north and followed the sign pointing to the yard. At the entrance to the property they have a big sign that says (something to the effect that) all visitors must check-in at the general office. So that’s what I did - I figured they must not be averse to visitors if they’re telling them to check-in and not get lost! [:)]
I guess I just wasn’t sure they’d be that hospitable to railfans. Great to know, though, in the event I’ll need to head down that way, though with the mass exodus to Proctor, I may not need to.
A couple of the trainmasters I have met are pretty nice guys, but don’t wouldnt expect hospitality to be the norm there.
The EJE units are no longer being used as helpers, as there are no more helpers on Steelton Hill. All except 3 have been dispersed about the system, although there is talk of the pair being replacing the GP9RM’s currently switching the general freight at Proctor.
The J’s also can be found on the Pokey Transfer, which collects interchange traffic from the BNSF’s 28th St. Yard, CP’s Stinson Yard and the UP’s Itasca yard, although recently IC SD40-3’s #6203 and #6204 have been working that job.
They left a couple of weeks ago, I believe. The others scattered once the NBs were being sent up the Missabe, with Proctor now capable of holding freight cars, thus helpers were no longer needed up the hill.
