WELLAND, Ontario — A Canadian National “funeral train” of 18 Dash 8 locomotives, part of an auction and sale in June 2023, arrived in Welland, Ont, on July 29, concluding a trip from Iowa. The locomotives will be handed off to the GIO Rail Trillium operation, which will deliver them to SLM Recycling of Welland. Two years ago, K&K Recycling scrapped more than 30 Dash 8s at a different site in Welland. Number boards, horns and bells had largely been removed before the locomotives were shipped east. Included in the move were CN Nos. 2180, 2444, 2434, 2431, 2432, 2036, 2402, 2037, 2005, 2003, 2008, 2424, 2019, and 2038; British Columbia Railway Nos. 4620, 4619, and 4623; and Illinois Central No. 2462. — Stephen C. Host
I was traveling along US-20 in North Central Iowa and spotted this train as it was about to go under the highway. Now I know where it was going, and why.
It would be poetic justice if a main line steam locomotive had been assigned to pull the “funeral” train of decommissioned diesel locomotives to their final destination.
Southern Railway’s retirement of the last six Alco PA’s built was a missed opportunity for the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (TVRM) to acquire at least two of the units. But TVRM was too obsessed with preserving steam locomotives while being operated by a generation of people from the steam era.
I’ll miss seeing those cowl units. It was cool seeing those way down here in south Alabama, especially the BC Rail units. Hopefully at least one cowl unit has or will be saved in a museum somewhere.
When CNR took over WCL, we’d see what you described (above) here in Wisconsin. Now everything looks the same.
If possible, one member of CN’s entire Dash 8 fleet should be preserved in The Canadian Railway Museum – Exporail!
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
Farewell to you all dear 18 units of GE Dash 8-40CM (Dash 8-40CM)! You are already missed!
Dr. Güntürk Üstün