ThrowBack Thursday – CN 4569 Through the Years

by Keith MacCauley

GP9 CN 4569 was manufactured by GMD London in November of 1957. In 1990 the venerable unit would be transformed by Point Ste. Charles into slug No. 245 and ultimately retired 2020. 

Through the years;

Niagara Falls 1976 (Keith MacCauley collection) Note the ACI label. Aside from paint, virtually unchanged since the Dillworth designed GP9 departed London.

Burlington 1978 (Keith MacCauley collection) Note the difference in height compared to the nose coupled GP40-2L (W).

Hannon 1980 (Keith MacCauley photo) CN 4569 is shown southbound having crossed Nebo road on a short freight extra. Note my very first car parked beside the HANNON SCHOOL; a 1980 Plymouth Horizon TC3. While the tracks are long gone, the school building (no longer a school) is still there.

Rymal 1984 (Keith MacCauley photo) Having switched Shaw Pipe Protection, CN 4569 is shown on a freight extra on a Sunday afternoon. At the time Shaw Pipe was in the midst of a large western pipe supply contract requiring both twice a day switching and weekend service.

Bayview 1984 (Norm Conway photo). CN 4569 is shown on a caboose hop westbound through Bayview Junction into Hamilton.

Stratford 1989 (Keith MacCauley collection) Most likely a Brian C Nickel photo that I obtained from Brad Jolliffe. CN 4569 must have received a repaint since her ragged appearance in 1984.

Memphis TN 2007 (rrpicturearchives.net) CN 4569 after conversion to slug CN 245. Note the change in trucks from Blomberg to Flexicoil. It seems overly cruel to reduce a fully functional locomotive to an unpowered slug.

Wordless Wednesday No. 677

 

  

More NERPM 2026

One a number of trucks that Bill Badger had on display this year's RPM.

I have a good number of RPM views on my phone. So here are some more views from Springfield on the weekend, enjoy...George Dutka

A better look at Bills truck.

There was a number of location one could sit down and either participate at weathering cars or just watch. 

Weathering by Butch Eyler. The roof looked great on the Guilford car. One could sit and watch Butch weather.

Chris Adams

A stretched boxcar. A clinic on this car was at the RPM.

The B&M on Neil Schofield diorama

NERPM 2016

A nice looking caboose with extra details added by Stephen Tyk.

Don and I are heading to check out layouts today after two days at the Springfield, Ma. RPM meet then off to Vermont. The RPM seemed well attended once again. We watched some wonderful clinics on topics we did not know much about. The modeling on display was over the top once again. There was lots to buy but I only picked up some kits and details from BEST that I ordered in advance. These are some of the photos I took with my cell phone...more to follow once I am home...George Dutka

Geoffrey Anthony built this MEC woodchip car. Speaking to Geoffrey he confirmed that the MEC did not have any yellow gold woodchip cars as I showed you a little while ago that a friend of mine modeled. 

Tony Koester has a second layout on the go. This time in O scale and proto 48. His clinic covered what he is now doing extremely well.

Neil Schofield presented a wonderful clinic on his CV Richford Branch. This is a new addition to his Richford scene. This photo of Neil's model was inspired by a similar view Ian Stronach took many years ago of the prototype on the Richford.

Neil once the clinic was over answering questions. 

There was a lot for sale in the vendors room.

Two of the models Jack Hughes brought along to the RPM.

Just in case you wanted to touch something.

B&M power on display by Maxwell Brisben of Champlain Valley Custom Models.

B&M State Line Siding

CIL 9164; Custom run Red Caboose kit released by the Monon Historical Society

I got these photo from Jim Dufour last week...thought you would like a peek at them too...George Dutka

"I was out railfanning along the Cheshire Branch yesterday when I came across a cut of freight cars left on the siding at State Line, probably by the Worcester local. I wasted no time grabbing some roster shots of them. If past history is any indication of the future, I would expect to see them soon during operating sessions on the Cheshire. Perhaps you will too!" Jim 

BMX 4555 "Tarvia" tank car by Tangent

Illinois Central 16462; Sunshine resin kit

Southern Pacific 15294; SP class B-50-15 w/ replacement steel sheathing by Rapido

PRR 168912; Pennsylvania Railroad class GLA hopper by Rapido 

Vergennes Vt. Station

Trackside view of the station.

One of my stops while in Vermont and heading to the Rutland Railroad Historical Society's convention was at the Vergennes ex-Rutland station. It had been moved to a ride share parking lot next to the track which has become an Amtrak stop. The station is in great shape and well restored. It's hard to believe they spent the money to restore the large two story structure but future generations will be happy...George Dutka

Roadside view April 29, 2026

On the wall of the station.

Meeting at Bellows Crossing!

 

BAR and MEC power meet at Bellows Crossing in a staged view using two engines that were Peter Mumby's at one time. They are now in my collection. The MEC unit I actually painted and detailed 30 years ago.

I took this photo back in 2013 using a A590 Canon Power Shot, my digital pocket camera. I always liked the views I got from using it while laying the camera on the tracks. The diamond area is always a nice spot to get a interesting view...George Dutka         

Middlesex, Vt - CV Station

 

Sept. 8, 2012

I visited the ex-CV station in Middlesex back in 2012. It looked in so-so condition although some of the windows were missing with weather getting in. I always wondered how much time this building had. I was surprised to see it standing in the fall of 2025 when I was driving by (on my way to Waterbury). It now has a funky look to the entrance area although all overgrown. I just took a couple of shots from the car. The roof has been partly replaced with steel and it looked like it might be being used.  

I stopped by once again to take a better look at the station on April 30, 2026. The growth around the station can be seen through in the early spring...George Dutka 

Roadside view from 2012.

The windows by the bay window was missing...a look inside in 2012.

Sept 10 2025 a roadside view of the south end of the structure.

Note the new roofing. Only some areas are new. I noted the end slopes are still shingles. Did not see the other end of trackside views.

It is easier to see the station in the spring when the leaves are not out. April 30, 2026.

April 30 2026. 

Trackside view on April 30, 2026

East Deerfield Buggy and Jim Dufour

I got a nice e-mail shortly after the post regarding the East Deerfield, Ma caboose, at the railfan bridge location from Jim Dufour. Jim notes that the owner is a very good friend of his named Heath Molte. Heath is a retired CSX employee and also a skilled model railroader. He is Jim's DCC guy. Jim mentioned that Heath told him if there is smoke in the chimney he is home and if I am around, I should stop by. Don and I will be in the area Sunday afternoon after the RPM and maybe we will be lucky and Heath will be there. I also heard that Heath will be at next weekend's RPM so maybe we will meet then.

On the topic of Jim Dufour, not sure if you have seen the cover of the June MR. Jim's layout is featured there. Jim wrote a nice piece about the Troy Ledges for "Prototype to Model". The great looking model photo was taken by his/our friend Randy Laframboise. I think you might want to make a point to read that one...George Dutka

Throw Back Thursday – AGCX Methanol Tank Cars

by Keith MacCauley

Alberta Gas Chemical (AGC) was a 1970’s origin subsidiary of Nova Corporation of Alberta, whose beginnings date back to 1954 when it was incorporated as The Alberta Gas Trunk Line Company Ltd (AGTL). Methanex Corporation acquired in whole Nova’s methanol business and operations in 1994.

In the late 1970’s, employing the AGCX reporting mark, AGC began to assemble a fleet of 30,000 gallon (nominal/usg) non-insulated methanol tank cars, decorated with a large red and white ‘ALBERTA GAS CHEMICALS’ logo. In 1990, along with acquiring the AGCX reporting mark, Procor purchased the entire AGCX fleet comprised of some two hundred and thirty cars. Classified as DOT 111A 100W1, the fleet consisted of fifty cars built by Procor Oakville in 1978 (AGCX 10000-10049) and one hundred and eighty cars produced by Hawker Siddeley Transport in Trenton Nova Scotia, 1981/1982 (AGCX 10050-10229). A quick identifier of the Procor built tank cars, is the prominent reinforcing ring at each end. The new owner was obligated to paint out the AGC emblem ASAP. While all of the AGCX tank cars were AAR fifty-year interchange eligible, Transport Canada Dangerous Goods transportation packaging rules would ultimately shorten their life. Further to rule making introduced in 2015, DOT 111A 100W1 tank cars used to transport Class 3, Packing Group II commodities (such as Methanol) had to be removed from service by 5/1/2025.