Contrecoeur Mystery Switcher
Story by FM - Photo by C. SeatonContrecoeur Quebec - May 1987
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Back in Train Order days when the engine number was
not immediately known for a scheduled train, the words
'Eng Unknown' would be used. In May 1987 Mr. Chris Seaton and I drove down from Montreal to the Sidbec Steel Mill at Contrecoeur, Quebec as we had heard that they were scrapping the last of the Montreal Transportation Commission stretch Brill Canadian Car and Foundry busses. |
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Within the plant on the St. Lawrence River side
were several bus hulks and a line of MLW switchers,
their hoods and cabs removed with the diesel engines
standing open on their frames. It was too far away for
photos so we decided to drive around the rear of the
plant to see what we could see. We spied a reddish 539 switcher in the distance outside the fence and walked towards it for photos. As we got close, a security guard called us over and asked us, en Francaise, what we were doing. I replied we were just going to take a photo of the, veille diesel en bas, s'il vous plais?. He said okay and let us get a little closer, but, not close enough to read the builder's plate on the cab. We left, and I later read in a 'Trackside Guide' that the unit was apparently National Harbours Board No. D8 with Blunt trucks applied in lieu of it's standard ARR trucks. For years I accepted this as fact, and let it go. In late 2004 I asked Chris if he still had the photo of the switcher at Contrecoeur and he sent the colour slide for me to print. One Question. Is this NHB D8 an MLW S3 on Blunts, OR is it a True Alco-GE S1? The unit in the photo does not have flag brackets on the front corners of the nose. |
Editor's Note: Any information on the true identity of this unit would be appreciated.
Send info to the Yardlimit. see: Yardlimit contact information
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