During December, AMT placed the following diesels and equipment up
for sale ending
January 23rd 2013:
AMT GP9u’s 1310, 1312, and 1313. (AMT 1311 is at Exporail)
AMT EGU (HEP Generator) 600, 601, 602, 604, 605, 606. (AMT 603 is at Exporail)
AMT Hawker-Siddely built single decker ex-GO Transit coaches (68 in total)
Rebuilt from a retired CN GP9 at the former CN Point St-Charles Shop, AMT GP9u
1312 rests
between
assignments at Glen Yard in 1990. The commuter cars behind her are CC&F-built
CPR coaches that began service in the early 1950’s. All are now retired, and
many survive today on tourist railways.
Former CRO Webmaster Marc Chouinard snapped a set of the former GO Transit
cars, ironically coupled to an AMT leased former GO F59PH at downtown Lucien
L’Allier Station, in full view of the “Habs” logo at the Bell Centre in 2010.
AMT ALP-45DP Watch
AMT ALP-45DP Watch:
In November, Canadian Pacific Railway authorized the use of the ALP-45DP
locomotives in diesel mode only, and as of November 7th, eight ALP-45DP’s were
at Sortin Yard being prepared for service on CP trackage only. More ALP45DP's
were transferred from St-Eustache to Sortin on November 19th , via Parsley:
1351, 1359, 1363, 1367, 1368 and 1369 leaving only 1350, 1352, 1353, 1361, 1365
and 1366 still hanging on CN. The first revenue run was November 28th
on AMT train 191 from Montreal to St-Jerome. The train made its return this
morning and is shown here preparing to lay over until the evening rush hour.
For the immediate future these Bi-mode units will be used exclusively on CP
lines to St-Jerome and Vaudreuil. The first ALP-45DP’s into service on the
Blainville line on Train 174 November 28th had one at each end of its
9-car set of Bombardier bi-levels.
AMT expects to use them on the Vaudreuil-Hudson (CP line) by “late winter.
On December 9th, AMT 1363 and 1367 were at St-Luc Diesel Shop to
modify a valve on the roof.
AMT 1350 Displayed at
Pointe St-Charles Yard in late-September 2012
AMT 1351 Transferred
to CP at
Sortin December 19th to be tested on CP's Parc subdivision
and AMT's Ste-Agathe Subdivision.
AMT 1352 Removed from
service following the derailment in Central Station and stored since December 9th,
2011.
AMT 1353 Stored in
St-Eustache following testing in May 2012.
AMT 1354 Now in Service
AMT 1355 Now in Service
AMT 1356 Transferred to CP at Sortin on Nov 19th 2012 To be tested
on CP's Parc subdivision and AMT's Ste-Agathe Subdivision.
AMT 1357 Now in Service
AMT 1358 Now in service
AMT 1359 Transferred to CP at Sortin on November 19th 2012 To be
tested on CP's Parc subdivision and AMT's Ste-Agathe Subdivisio
AMT 1360 Transferred to CP at Sortin on Nov. 19th 2012 To
be tested on CP's Parc subdivision and AMT's Ste-Agathe Subdivision.
AMT 1361 Stored in
St-Eustache since late-February 2012.
AMT 1362 Transferred
to CP at Sortin on Nov. 19th 2012 To be tested on CP's Parc subdivision and
AMT's Ste-Agathe Subdivision.
AMT 1363 Transferred
to CP at Sortin on Nov. 19th 2012 To be tested on CP's Parc subdivision and
AMT's Ste-Agathe Subdivision.
AMT 1364 Transferred
to CP at Sortin on Nov. 19th 2012 To be tested on CP's Parc subdivision and
AMT's Ste-Agathe Subdivision.
AMT 1365 Arrived on
the property on May 30th, 2012.
AMT 1366 Arrived on
the property May 14th, 2012.
AMT 1367 Transferred
to CP at Sortin on Nov. 19th 2012 To be tested on CP's Parc subdivision and
AMT's Ste-Agathe Subdivision.
AMT 1368 Transferred
to CP at Sortin on Nov. 19th 2012 To be tested on CP's Parc subdivision and
AMT's Ste-Agathe Subdivision.
AMT
1369 Transferred to CP - Sortin in December to be tested on CP's Parc
subdivision and AMT's Ste-Agathe Subdivision.
The Bombardier (BBD) “builder's plate” numbers for the AMT dual power
locomotives are as follows:
Richard Marchi snapped AMT F59PH (AMXX 1344), wearing a new AMT paint scheme at
St-Luc Diesel Shop on December 16th. To date, this is the only
unit to wear this AMT livery.
Winter has arrived! RBRX F59PH 18533 is seen stopped at Montreal West with AMT #
53 on the afternoon of December 22nd. Shortly, it will push its train
westwards.
Michael Berry was able to catch some of the AMT rush hour action at Montreal
West December 5th just before sundown. On top of photographing an
AMT deadhead movement with AMT 1354 and AMT 1357, he bagged a second deadhead
movement about 4:15PM with ALP45DP's at both ends (AMT 1358 & AMT 1355). Soon
after, train 191 to St-Jerome passed by with AMT 1354 and 1357.
AMT News
Outside the St-Luc Diesel Shop, Richard Marchi snapped New Jersey Transit (NJT)
GP40FH-2 4140 and
4144 on December 16th.The full cowl units had been on lease to AMT
for Montreal commuter service, and no longer needed with the AMT ALP45-DP’s now
in service. The pair were later moved to the CN Taschereau Yard Interchange at
CP Parsley (St-Luc Yard west) for return to New Jersey.
On December 23rd, Richard caught 4118 re-lettered NJTR at St-Luc. As
well NJTR 4140 and 4144 were moved to the CN interchange at CP-Parsley.
On December 25th the pair were at Taschereau Yard to be placed on a
U.S. bound train.
AMT Train de l'Est:
AMT has
posted several impressive pictures of the ongoing construction for its expansive
Train de l’Est project.
CN 4799
passes the emergency platform at AMT’s future St-Léonard station (located near
boul. Lacordaire). CN GP38-2W is running on the Montréal Nord siding, which
will become the South main track. It will mostly be used by CN freight trains.
The current main line will become the North main track, and it will host AMT
commuter trains.
Between Terrebonne and Repentigny stations, AMT’s future Mascouche subdivision
will skirt a General Dynamics ammunition plant, requiring a protective berth to
shield the trains from an hypothetical explosion.
AMT’s
future Repentigny station. The new track at right is the lead of AMT’s
Mascouche subdivision, joining CN’s Joliette subdivision at St-Jacques street in
Charlemagne (about half-a-mile further back).
In Mid-December the first of the STM
MR-63
cab power cars were entering service on the
Green line
Nicolas Houde snapped a sat
into Place-des-Arts, and into the Verdun station on
December 15th, 2012.
Note the
new LED front lights.
GO TRANSIT NEWS
Edited
by Daniel Dell’Unto: danieldellunto@yahoo.ca
GO has launched a real-time online tool allowing passengers to track the
progress of their trains across the system. The "GO Tracker" online app can be
found on their website through the Schedules, Maps and Apps menu, or simply by
following this link:
http://www.gotracker.ca/gotracker/web/
A number of service changes are happening as of January 2013. Among them, a new
Action GO Station will be opening in Acton ON along the Kitchener line, to be
served by the current AM (trains 206 & 212) and PM (trains 207 & 211) Kitchener
line trains.
Other changes include three more trains on the Lakeshore West line and
additional 12-car trains to offer more seating. The Stoufville line will see a
new Union-Unionville afternoon train, and the Richmond Hill line will see a new
Union-Richmond Hill afternoon train.
Minor temporary holiday service adjustments will happen around the end of
December, with earlier evening trains, and both earlier & later trains on New
Year's Eve. GO service will also be free on New Year's Eve after 8:00pm.
The latest TTC Toronto Rocket on the property is
set TTC 5651-5656, testing in mid-December
before entering active revenue service. A number
of H5 subway car sets are still in service.
It is expected to be a while before the first of
the TTC's new 4400-series articulated LRV /
streetcars begins testing on Toronto streets.
The first completed unit, 4400, is currently at
the TTC's Hillcrest Shops complex for
inspection, familiarization and testing.
Bombardier has had to make a number of layoffs
at its Thunder Bay ON plant with regards to
delays in assembly of the TTC's Toronto Rocket
subway cars. Axles built in China and shipped to
Thunder Bay for installing were built too fine,
as a result assembly is delayed until new ones
can be manufactured for installation. Bombardier
is also encountering labour problems with their
factory that assembles the TR roofs in Quebec.
These two problems will no doubt delay delivery
of new cars to the TTC.
http://www.tbnewswatch.com/news/248468/Slow-down
While the new Toronto Rocket subway trains are
impressing passengers across the system, the TTC
has issue with their "unacceptable" in-service
performance, relating to among other things
delays caused by the door systems. Andy Byford,
the TTC CEO, will meet with top-level Bombardier
representatives to discuss what can be done
about the performance issues with the new
trains,
The West Coast Express runs between Mission, BC (MP 87.0 CP Cascade Sub) and
Vancouver's Waterfront Station (MP 129.1 CP Cascade Sub Monday to Friday. There
are five trains that travel West from Mission in the morning and the five trains
return to Mission in the Evening.
For further information and schedules please check out the West Coast Express
link
The West Coast Express ran a couple of Special Santa Trains on December 8th
and 15th.
Both were return trips from Mission, BC to Vancouver and return.
Trains left Mission at 10:00 AM and arrived at Waterfront Station in Vancouver
at 11:15. The return trip left at 16:00 and arrived in Mission at 17:15.
Part of the Bulletin from the WCE and CP.
On Saturday, December 8th and Saturday, December 15th, the extremely popular
West Coast Express Santa Train will be back on track, offering free rides to
passengers in return for new, unwrapped toys.
Now in its 16th year, the Santa Train collects toys on behalf of the Christmas
bureaus throughout the communities West Coast Express serves including; SHARE in
the Tri-Cities; the Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows Christmas Hamper Society; and, the
Christmas Bureau in Mission.
In 2011, West Coast Express collected more than 3900 toys and $1260 in cash
donations.
“When we first launched the Santa Train 16 years ago, we carried about 1200
passengers over the two-day event and now we are carrying more than 2500
passengers on the two Saturdays,” said Fred Cummings, President and General
Manager of West Coast Express. “West Coast Express passengers have embraced
the Santa Train because it’s a fun-filled way to give back to families in need
in their communities.”
Photos of the Santa Train taken at the Port Moody WCE Station on Dec 8th
and from the Moody Street Overpass on Dec 15th. Both sets taken by
Andy Cassidy.
Photos taken of the Santa Train at “Pitt River” MP 108 on the CP Cascade Sub by
Mark Forseille.
In other news:
James F Gilham caught Via 6431 working on the West Coast Express on December 3rd.
One of the regular WCE locomotives was out of service for a short period.
James caught some good action close to and at the Pitt Meadows Station.
Under the name Skeena Pacific, he’s done a 6 minute 44 second video. For those
that just want to just see the Via unit, it’s at he 4:50 mark.
James F Gilham (under the name Skeena Pacific) also took this short clip of
#38 West Coast Express Getting Ready for
passengers at the Vancouver Station for the afternoon trip East to Mission, BC
back in 2009.
