Locomotives of the ACR
Here are photos of the different diesel engines the ACR used from the start of dieselization to the Wisconsin Central buyout.
New and/or re-scanned photos have cells with a pale yellow colour background.
Would you like prints of most any of these slides? Go to Desert-Rails.com for details!
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100 - In 1978 the ACR had GMDD in London completely rebuild and upgrade 5 GP7's with 645 power assemblies, -2 electricals, and so on. The 5 units were stripped and then rebuilt using various parts from the stockpile, so no unit-for-unit renumbering was possible, however for bookkeeping reasons a unit-for-unit order was set up. Here is the class unit 100 (ex 162, now WC 1501) at Steelton on Aug 19, 1979. |
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101 - Steelton August 11, 1979. |
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102 - Steelton August 12, 1979. Scrapped after wreck at Mile 111 in 1994. |
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103 - Here is the 103 on the day it was delivered at Steelton....June 23, 1978 It was the 155, and is now the WC 1503.. |
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103 - It is a cold December 1, 1978 at Steelton. |
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103 - This is the 103 at Steelton April 17, 1979. |
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104 - Steelton August 12, 1979. |
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180 - With the ever increasing iron ore traffic, the GP7's were proving to be too small (and they were better suited for passenger service) and therefore in Oct. of 1971 the ACR took delivery of 3 SD40's, numbered 180, 181, and 182 (originally they were supposed to be numbered 177, 178, 179). The 3 SD's could haul the same tonnage up Tabor and Frater hills nearly twice as fast as 5 GP7's, and so were well liked by the crews. However, the sectionmen had to replace a lot more gauge rods ("a boxcar load a month" according to one of them)! Steelton May 27, 1974. |
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181 - Photo taken at Steelton on July 14, 1974. This is the only surviving SD40, and is now WC 6001. |
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181 - It is a brilliant (and very cold) winter morning at Steelton on January 9, 1981. |
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182 - This is the 182, the last of the SD40's enjoying some springtime sunshine after its first northern Ontario winter at Steelton on April 25, 1972. This unit was wrecked twice, and was scrapped around 1990 after its second trip into the bush just north of Wabos. See here for its history on the ACR... |
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183 - The ACR so liked the SD40's that 2 years later they bought 6 more SD40-2's on the tail end of an order for the CNR, and so were built to CNR specs. The 183 is at Steelton on November 30, 1973 still with the small CNR style numberboards. |
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184 - Steelton April 25, 1981. This engine would later be wrecked and scrapped at Mile 111 in 1994. |
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185 - brand new - Sault Ste Marie, Ontario - October 4, 1973. |
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185 - Here the 185 is at Hawk Jct. on Feb. 15, 1977. This unit was the WC 6003, now ? |
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186 - Here is the 186 the day it was delivered (Oct. 4, 1973) in the Canadian Pacific yard at the Sault. Note the small CNR style numberboards - these were changed out later on, along with a few other minor modifications. Was the WC 6004, now? |
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186 - Nearly 5 years later the 186's paint is holding up well, and the numberboards have been changed out for the real style ones. Steelton August 10, 1979. |
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187 - Steelton October 24, 1980. |
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188 - This was the highest numbered SD40-2 on the ACR. Here it is on Dec 16, 1973 at Steelton. It still has the small CNR style numberboards. Was WC 6006, now ? |
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188 - By this time the bogus CNR style numberboards have been replaced with the correct ACR style ones...Steelton April 16, 1978. |
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May 6 1981 at Steelton Shops - the last 4 of the new GP38-2's have just arrived. |
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200 - Around 1980, with further rebuilding of the remaining GP7's not practical, the ACR ordered 6 GP38-2's for passenger service. They were equipped with 2 aux generators, and a small control stand was added for controlling the steam generator cars. Here is the class unit 200 at Steelton the day it was delivered on May 6, 1981. This is now the WC 2001. |
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201 - Steelton May 31, 1981. |
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202 - Steelton July 5, 1981. |
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203 - Brand new Steelton May 6, 1981. |
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203 - Night scene at Steelton June 24, 1981. |
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204 - Modeller's take note! Steelton May 6, 1981. |
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204 - Steelton May 31, 1981. |
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205 - A year later the engines are getting dirty...and note the safety stripes on the handrails. Steelton May 18, 1982. |
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190 - In mid-1994 the ACR got what were to be their last new units - actually two ex Soo Line, nee Milwaukee GP40's that had been upgraded to Dash 2 specs by the Soo Line. This is the 190 at Steelton shops on Sept. 21, 1994. These wore real ACR colours for less than a year, and are now WC 3026 and 3027. The WC has repainted these two into commemorative paint schemes. |
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190 - For whatever reason, the US style rear headlight (2 smaller lights) was not replaced with the usual Canadian style single large headlight. Steelton June 21, 1994. |
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190 - Modellers take note! Here is a roof detail view of the 190. Note the dust bin cover, fan shrouds, etc are black but the roof itself is gray. Steelton June 21, 1994. |
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191 - The other ex Milwaukee GP40 - Steelton June 23, 1994. |
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191 - Steelton June 23, 1994. |
This Web Page and all photos on it copyright © 1964-2012 by Ted Ellis. All rights reserved.