Throwback Thursday - Before and After – Canadian National GP9/GP9RM’s

 

by Keith MacCauley 

Canadian National’s GP9 locomotive remanufacturing program is fairly well known. Beginning in 1981, some three hundred Rich M. Dilworth designed 1950’s GMD London built GP9’s were transformed into chop nosed GP9RM’s, or were neutered becoming unpowered booster units. Under the direction of Chief Mechanical Engineer Bill Blevins, modification of the first generation locomotives was performed at Pointe St. Charles (PSC) in Montreal, later renamed Atelier Montreal Facility (AMF), subsequently change to AMF Technotransport. CN’s program was among the most successful of rebuild projects. Some thirty years after its close, dozens of the rejuvenated units still toil away for CN. In addition, many of the sold/cast off rebuilds continue in service for their new owners.

CN 4135, delivered in December of 1956 as CN 4528, was remanufactured and painted as a road switcher in 1991 by PSC. The venerable unit 4135 continues in service for CN, currently assigned to their Montreal based Taschereau Yard facility.