GT 4611 with a picture & question

[J T]

I was crusing down I-94 near Detroit this afternoon and saw this guy crusing along the tracks parallel to the highway. I got off at the next exit (Greenfield Rd.) and waited to get a picture as it approached the CN yard there (Melvindale?). So I'm wondering...how many locos are left with the GT paint scheme? I don't see them very often and a search online for "GT 4611" directed me a photo of the GP9 taken back in 1991 (from this site: http://www.railroadmichigan.com/grandtrunk.html )

[SD80MAC]

There are more than you think. That's a GP9R. Most of the engines left in GT paint are Geeps, I think there's only 3 SD40-2s left in GT.

[J T]

Yep, I see I forgot the r.

[SD40-2]

27 GTW GP9R's as of 2006
GTW 4609
GTW 4610
GTW 4611
GTW 4612
GTW 4613
GTW 4614
GTW 4615
GTW 4616
GTW 4617
GTW 4618
GTW 4619
GTW 4620
GTW 4621
GTW 4622
GTW 4623
GTW 4624
GTW 4625
GTW 4626
GTW 4627
GTW 4628
GTW 4629
GTW 4630
GTW 4631
GTW 4632
GTW 4633
GTW 4634
GTW 4635

[J T]

All those in Michigan, or scattered about?

[RailCanon]

They are kind of scattered, but for the most part, the majority of them are in Michigan, along with the majority of the 4900-series GP38-2s.

[Norm]

I think the Geeps are pretty much relegated to yard work. Hardly ever see one on the road.

[RailCanon]

Since we are on the topic of GTW engines...

From what I have read, the order has come down from the CN funnyfarm in Montreal that ALL GTW units still in GTW blue are to be repainted for CN. This means that the unit's will not be repainted "when needed", for example, after body work or an overhaul, but when ever the unit has a chance to go to woodcrest. Examples..late in 2006, GP9R 4615 left Woodcrest in CN paint, and the 4621 just got the treatment this month...saddly, expect more.
Dave c

GET YOUR PHOTOS OF THESE ENGINES NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

[trainjunkie47]

You will see GTW units on road trains and yard jobs over the old Chicago Central with some regularity if you ever get that way.

[J T]

Since we are on the topic of GTW engines...

From what I have read, the order has come down from the CN funnyfarm in Montreal that ALL GTW units still in GTW blue are to be repainted for CN. This means that the unit's will not be repainted "when needed", for example, after body work or an overhaul, but when ever the unit has a chance to go to woodcrest. Examples..late in 2006, GP9R 4615 left Woodcrest in CN paint, and the 4621 just got the treatment this month...saddly, expect more.
Dave c

GET YOUR PHOTOS OF THESE ENGINES NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

I did my part.

[SDavey]

That locomotive is currently being used to switch out the yard at the Ford Rouge complex, which is a holdover from the days when DT&I owned the line. When the locomotives aren't being used the GTW will usually place it where Schaefer Tower was located before it was removed in the last year or so. This is the junction of the former DT&I and the Junction Yard Secondary running between the NS Michigan Line and River Rouge. I also saw the 4611 at Schaefer Tower on the 11th while I was in town.

[J T]

So was my ID of it being a CN yard incorrect? I was just going by what my DeLorme map says what that line is.

[SDavey]

There is a yard there, but it is completely within Fords property at the Rouge Complex. GTW mainly serves switches that yard, but Ford also has their privately owned switches they use within the complex itself, but I believe others could offer more insight on this topic.

[CAT345C]

Yep ford has its own line of switchers, my dad has access to the Ford database, and a few years ago he brought me home a couple pages about operationing saftey with the trains, then some Model stuff, and Dales Board was mentioned as a great place to visit.

[Railnut]

GP9R's in CN paint:
4615 (exCV-GTW 4555) Repainted November/December 2006
4621 (exGTW 4540) repainted January 2007
4634 (exGTW 4932) CN paint applied after rebuild was complete (March 1993)
4635 (exGTW 4901) CN paint applied after rebuild was complete (came online March 30th, 1993).
The only GTW SD40-2's in GTW paint are 5933, 5936, and 5937
The entire 4900-4934 series GP38-2's (of units active) is still in GTW paint (outshoped by Battle Creek between 1987 and 1991)
Of the GP38-2MP's (4994-4999), 4994, 4995, 4997 are still in GTW paint (the 4999 was sold off in 2002)
5800 series GP38-2's in GTW paint:
5812-14
5816-25
5827
5829-34
5836
5844(NOTE, there are no unit's in the 5837-43 slots)
5846-47
5849-58
5860

6200 series GP38-2's(6221-28)..all units in GTW paint
I belive only the 6420(?) is left of the GTW(DTI) GP40-2's in CN paint.
Dave C

[Railnut]

Thats 6221-6228...
Dave C

[MSchwiebert]

These units were also the last to survive in DT&I orange (excluding the 1776 of course). This was due to these units being financed through Grehyound Leasing. At the time of the GT takeover, they went into storage due to the lease terms not being the best. Apparently they (GT) were able to negotiate better terms with Greyhound - or bought them outright when the original lease expired.

Thats 6221-6228...
Dave C

[RailCanon]

In fact...6227 was the very last GTW engine ever to be painted in GTW Blue, in late 1992, just before CN released their North America Map scheme.

[sd70accsxt700]

You know lest we forgett, that all of these railroads are owned by CN, and at one time, all off those railroads, DWP, CV, GTW, CN, had the same exact paint job, most here have probilly never seen it, but rember, first green and gold maple leaf colors, then a unified switch to black and red, and even at one time GTW F's in Zebra Stripe. Heck even until the CNNA paint came out, except for the CV, take the Zebra stripes off the side of a CN unit, and what do you have? A black body with red ends, kind of like a blue body with red ends? Besides what looks more crapy a Red and Blue (GT) unit with a stupid yellow frame stripe, or a Black and White (IC) one with a yellow frame stripe. They have already killed it with that choice anyway. CN is not a nasty railroad just because, they wnat a unified image. Everything that is old is new again!


BACK TO THE FUTURE!!!!!!!!

[GreatLakesRailfan]

Personally, I'm not sure how big a fan I'd be if CN decided to change their corporate scheme to GT blue/red. I like it more so because it's not as common as other schemes (mustard yellow and gray comes to mind)...and it gives some variety to the way too uniform (for my tastes) CNNA paint schemes. While it's certainly not the case at this point in time, would anyone really be excited if CN announced a change of heart and that all future locomotive deliveries and repaints would have red ends and blue sides?