Canada's Oldest Diesel ?
Story & Photos by FMAmherstburg Ontario - June 2001
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In June 2001 Mr. Greg McDonnell and myself traveled west on notorious Highway 401 towards Windsor, Ontario to find what could be Canada's oldest 'Factory-Built' diesel electric locomotive still in service! Here we are excluding locomotives under 100 tons. |
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At the far end of the Essex Terminal Railway is
the Hearn Group's soda ash unloading facility which
employs two 539 switchers, both ex. Essex Terminal
locomotives. The 200, Alco-GE 69824, Dec 1941, and the
300, MLW-GE 77282, Dec 1952.
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The 'prize' of the trip was no. 200, which dates
back to December 1941 during World War Two. Pearl
Harbour, which brought the United States into the war
was Dec. 7, 1941. Canada had been at war since 1939 and a diesel electric locomotive was required to work at Canadian Car and Munitions. An off-the-shelf Locomotive was obtained from Alco-GE, c/n 69824. After the war 69824 was sold to the Essex Terminal Railway and then to The Hearn Group where it works well into it's seventh decade!! having never been retired nor museumed. Around the back beyond the soda ash unloading facility was no. 8, from 1946?, another S1, used as a parts source for the operational locomotives. Note extended visor on rear of cab on No. 8. |
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