EDMONTON — Canadian National has donated a former British Columbia Railway C40-8M locomotive — a wide-cab locomotive featuring the “Draper Taper” design behind the cab for improved rearward visibility — to the Alberta Railway Museum.
CN retired its fleet of the 4,000-hp General Electric locomotives earlier this year, but set aside No. 4618 for the museum. The locomotive was built for the British Columbia Railway but became part of CN’s fleet with the purchase of the BCR in 2003.
“We are delighted to become the custodians for this massive locomotive,” Alberta Railway Museum president Stephen Yakimets said in a press release. “Although its manufacturer, General Electric, is today the largest supplier of new locomotives in North America, back in 1990 they were still a new player in Canada. It really was the C40-8M that helped launch high-horsepower GE orders from Canada’s railways.” The locomotive will be evaluated for possible use on the museum’s passenger trains, operated during the summer, and at other special events.
“CN’s support of the Alberta Railway Museum over the years has been significant,” Yakimets said. “In 1971, CN donated its first road freight diesel, [F3A] No. 9000, to the Museum, which at the time was only 23 years old. To receive this uniquely Canadian locomotive that is now more than three decades old shows CN’s continued support for preserving its rich heritage.”
CN assistant chief of motive power William L. Draper worked with GE on the design feature that came to bear his name, which was a trademark of the 81 cowl units purchased by CN and BC Rail between 1990 and 1994.
Great news! Glad to see CN donate one of these very unique cowl units with the Draper Taper and CN-style comfort cab to a museum for future generations to admire. Thanks to all those involved with saving it. Your efforts are appreciated.
Not quite accurate to say they are all retired. As of October 2 4609 remains on the roster
The Alberta Railway Museum (ARM) is a railway museum located in the north end of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It houses a collection of railway equipment and buildings and has locomotives from both the Canadian National Railways (CNR) and Northern Alberta Railways (NAR).
The museum opened in 1976 in a historic spot, on the former Canadian Northern Railway Coronado Subdivision. With the exception of summer staff, volunteers keep the museum operating. Funding comes from memberships, museum admissions, grants and casinos.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
In June of 2023, Canadian National Railway donated unit #2150 to the British Columbia Institute of Technology for use as a training unit at their Delta, BC campus.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün