BARTLETT, Ill. — Canadian National’s business train makes a stop at Spaulding Junction in Chicago’s western suburbs to board officials and invited guests during a trip on Wednesday, March 20. The train was led by Wabtec AC44C6M No. 3309, the locomotive featuring the revived steam-era “wafer” logo [see “Canadian National revives …,” Trains News Wire, Sept. 19, 2023]. It was on a trip marking CN CEO Tracy Robinson’s selection as 2024 Railroader of the Year by Railway Age magazine, according to photographer Mark Llanuza.
Spaulding, on the former Elgin, Joliet & Eastern, has gained a degree of notoriety as the interchange point that has triggered a long-running dispute between CN and Canadian Pacific Kansas City involving the Surface Transportation Board as well as federal courts [see “STB rules against CN in Chicago interchange dispute …,” News Wire, Jan. 30, 2024]. It is between Bartlett and Elgin, Ill.
I’d love to know more about that train’s heritage(s). If I had to bet the dome car came from some other railroad.
Like the loco, the end car has a traditional CNR logo, not the 1960’s noodle of CNR, GTW and CV.
Should I be looking for a traditional CN logo here in Wisconsin in the coming years?
I like the steam era logo much better than the wet noodle. I hope the citizens of Barrington were not frightened by this train as it does not appear to be one of the dreaded monster trains that supposedly stalk that village.
I am impressed by how spotless the units are. I have seen business trains where the cleanliness of the units leaves a lot to be desired.. Beautiful train, which I could have seen it in person.
Was Durbin & Duckworth on the train as well?
If they were there they got juicy CN PAC campaign contributions.
As the Senators from Illinois I do hope they were invited if it was that kind of trip, yet it wasn’t. The above article says ” It was on a trip marking CN CEO Tracy Robinson’s selection as 2024 Railroader of the Year by Railway Age magazine, according to photographer Mark Llanuza.”
I ask because a prior article mentioned that the CN CEO met with the 2 Illinois senators at roughly the same time.