Recently I ran across a video of a blue CN C44-9W with IC Subletting. I went to a few other places, and found more such diesels, but I could not find a single picture of these locomotives wearing anything but CN paint. Did CN purchase these themselves, and retained the IC name? Or were they ordered by IC and delivered to CN? Or some other explanation? If someone could explain this, I’d appreciate it. Thanks.
CN owns the IC, so perhaps they are former IC locomotives that CN just repainted but kept the IC sublettering. Sometimes things like this are done for tax purposes, and sometimes it’s because of some legal reason regarding ownership.
Probably thinking of the ex-LMS C40-8Ws.
Look like this?
http://media.photobucket.com/image/recent/JR7582/102_11577.jpg
They are actually C40-8W’s on long term lease to CN (IC) until October 31, 2012. My guess is at that time they’ll get CN paint and be purchased if CN’s happy with the performance of the Dash 8’s they’re rebuilding now.
IC 2455 (ex LMSX 728):
http://flic.kr/p/7Sonuw
IC 2456 (ex LMSX 729):
http://flic.kr/p/8NPWpt
IC 2457 (ex LMSX 730):
http://flic.kr/p/7SokkQ
IC 2458 (ex LMSX 731):
http://flic.kr/p/7Sk5Fz
IC 2459 (ex LMSX 732):
http://flic.kr/p/7TKkPm
IC 2460 (ex LMSX 733):
http://flic.kr/p/7Sk6qz
IC 2461 (ex LMSX 734):
http://flic.kr/p/921dK9
IC 2462 (ex LMSX 735):
http://flic.kr/p/7Sk63H
IC 2463 (ex LMSX 736):
http://flic.kr/p/7SomXQ
IC 2464 (ex LMSX 737):
http://flic.kr/p/9bPcHT
IC 2465 (ex LMSX 738):
http://flic.kr/p/7SonQY
IC 2466 (ex LMSX 739):
http://flic.kr/p/7Sk5jR
There are a few IC Dash 9’s…but these are all in full red/black CN paint with IC sublettering. These are numbered IC 2697 through IC 2726. An example is below:
http://flic.kr/p/7Som9b
One note on spotting a Dash 8 versus a Dash 9 - look at the trucks. Dash 8 trucks have more of a curve between axles and the Dash 9 is much straighter. I learned that after thinking the blue units were Dash 9’s also.
Hope that helps,
Dan
Actually the blue IC-sublettered locos are ex-LMS C40-8Ws still in their original 1990s CR-blue paint in the #2400 series. Unlike the recently-acquired BNSF and UP Dash 8s, I don’t think any of the former LMS-blue engines have been repainted since their original paint looks worn out. CN also has IC-sublettered C44-9Ws in the #2700 series with the standard red/black CN paint too.
I don’t know if the #2700 series C44-9Ws were originally ordered by IC or ordered after CN took control in 1998? IC preferred EMDs, and didn’t have any GE’s on their roster in their later years. IC dabbled with a handful of GE U-boats and Alco C636s in the late 1960s, but those only lasted several years on IC/ICG’s roster in the late 60s-early 1970s.
IC leased them care of CN on August 27, 2004 from BNP Paribas Leasing. IC terminated the lease and bought them in October of 2011. At least that’s true for IC 2697 - IC 2716.
None of the ex-LMS motors got CN paint…yet.
I had the pleasure(?) of having those llama engines a few times a couple of years ago.
They were beat back then. Can’t imagine how they are today.
Thank you all. [:)] That makes sense. Now there are only a couple of matters I’m still confused about. The first is why locomotives apparently newer than a fallen flag have been sub lettered. The ones in CN paint confuse me as well. I think with Guilford all new equiptmet is distributed to done of the roads under the Pan AM banner. ALso one reply talked about how in 2011 the IC terminated the lease on the 2700s and bought them, while another stated that CN bought them after they took control (yet still sub lettered them?) . DOes the IC still exist on paper at all?
Thanks
I also notice that on many of them, the number is in Illinois Central Times Font, rather than the Sans Sarrif CN uses.
IC still exists on paper…just like WC, GTW, DMIR, EJE, etc. It’s not unheard of for corporations to acquire equipment and letter it for a merged entity. UP has done it plenty as well as CN. Heck, this morning I saw a brand new (less than 3 month old) covered hopper lettered for “CC” which is Central of Chicago…another CN subsidiary.
So, yes, CN ‘leased’ them through IC and then the IC bought them. All under the corporate flag of CN.
Those pics remind me of how I always wanted to take pics of Conrail locos in the snow around here, but by the time I got to official start the railfan life, that option was dead, as the Conrail locos here had been painted NS ugly black. I still remember riding to a crossing, seeing a gleaming Conrail loco in fresh paint, headlights from cars reflecting off of it, “25 years of safety and service” written across it, and so badly wanting to be standing there grabbing pictures of that thing against the snowy background. Sigh. Well, at least I’ve got those pics you guys took to think about. It’s the closest I’ll ever see to that.
EDIT-I now see the presence of red lights on the noses of those locos. Were they, in fact, ex-Conrails, perhaps sold off before the big breakup? The red lights were a Conrail thing.
DM&IR and DW&P will not longer exist on paper very soon. All under the WC banner now, ironically.
Good point Max.