CN Cowls: The Final Chapter

[@MichaelSaraka1980]

If y’all haven’t heard a C40-8M BCOL 4618 was recently preserved by the Alberta rail museum in Edmonton

[@Winternight11]

Wat 😊 I’m so glad that one was saved Rest In Peace to the Cn cowls

[@KPrime31]

I just caught 3 (most likely heading to scrap) in Schoolcraft Michigan about a week ago, and one was a BC Rail! One of them was the exact one in the opening scenes, #2403. How cool!

[@TheBCRailfan]

Excellent documentary of these iconic Canadian units! Although I was late to the game on catching these units, I’m still grateful that I’ve caught some on camera throughout my railfanning career. Let’s hope for the best that whenever CN completely removes the remaining ones off the roster, at least one of them will be preserved. I hope a BCOL one is saved, as they’ve been one of my favorite locomotives of all time.

[@ghost_pine_film_productions]

Thanks! I'm glad to hear you managed to catch some yourself, they are super cool locos. I'm hoping a BC Rail one is preserved too, very nice units indeed.

[@jeremiahwilson8558]

BCOL 4618 is preserved

[@RyanTheRailfan]

This Hurts me, Glad I was able to see so many in my short time on CN, we can only hope for one last show for the cowls, Happy to help provide videos/photos to put this beautiful tribute of the cowls together!

[@mile290productions3]

same, i've been watching CN since 2019, i've only seen a small few. i was lucky enough to see one BCOL C40-8M still in it's paint

[@austintheman.97]

@@mile290productions3 I've been fan of CN since I grew up, most of my life.

[@thomasklimchuk441]

For those us who had to run they were nothing but junk

[@mile290productions3]

@@thomasklimchuk441 that sucks. but they're still cool

[@codyallan9222]

This was incredible! Love seeing footage of the three hills sub! (I’m on the CP red deer sub so not far from me) would love to see more of these!!

[@ghost_pine_film_productions]

Thanks! The Three Hills sub is a favorite of mine because it gets a lot of vintage power. I have many more video planned - stay tuned!

[@yogiperogy]

Great production! The amount of work, the extensive collaboration and coordination amongst those who contributed are impressive and deserving of railfan gratitude and admiration. Thank you very much!

[@ghost_pine_film_productions]

Thank you very much! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@csxnstrainman]

Awesome video! I was fortunate enough to see some of those cowl units in the southeast US before they were retired or stored. Majority of the time I would see them on unit ethanol trains from up north before they started to disappear.

[@Norvexike]

@Ghost Pine Film Production pause the video at 12:07 and it will look very cool with the cowl leading

[@austintheman.97]

That horn always has a nice tune, and always brings back memories.

[@austintheman.97]

Man, those Cowl Units have brought numerous memories, over the past 25-30 years in Canada. I'm just so heartbroken that CN, doesn't make Lashups with them anymore. Just so sad to see them move onto the final chapter, of their lives. They will be missed, but NEVER forgotten.

[@ravenhawk6910]

Absolutely amazing work my friend. I'm so happy to see some of my photos and footage in one of your works. Keep up the great work and long live the cowls!

[@ghost_pine_film_productions]

Thanks!

[@jeremiahwilson8558]

Cowl units (especially the dash 8) are my favorite diesel, besides the SD40-2

[@lizggil123]

Me too

[@chooch9816]

What a cool video of the cowl units. I sure miss the old “sergeant stripe” CN livery.

[@ghost_pine_film_productions]

@@chooch9816 Me too. Another era faded into the historic books...

[@robertrix6720]

Calm narration, nice music, and great footage made for a very enjoyable video.

[@ghost_pine_film_productions]

Thanks!

[@gulfcoasttrainspotter]

Lovely documentary! Seeing these engines dwindle in number over time was sad to see, but that’s just progress. Although the future is uncertain for many of these engines, I’m just glad we get to live in a time where we get to still see these engines in service or storage, as one day, they may fade into the history books.

[@ghost_pine_film_productions]

Thanks! Well spoken, the absence of these locos will leave a hole in the hearts of railfans that were fortunate enough to see them in action. But like you said, such is the cost of progress unfortunately. Hopefully they hang on for a little while longer.

[@cnw6935]

I'm from the UK. Fortunately I got to see most of these in service, all over Canada and the US

[@fireicemorphsoar]

It was enjoyable to operate the SD60s, especially when as a double set or triple set. Very responsive acceleration and braking.

[@scottyb2688]

Aberdean Carolina Western in NC bought 25 or 30 of the CN cowls 5520-5559 orange with black white stripes they also got 6922 alastrom grey one of only two left in service

[@WasatchGarandMan]

Didnt know that CN was starting to get rid of these, a buddy of mine in California snapped a few pictures of one at the old SP yard at Roseville in March of 2022. It was in the middle of a few more modern UP locomotives.

[@haegenbyrne]

I’m glad that I got to see a CN cowl

[@RailFan1981]

Well done! Hopefully i'll run into one or two more of these before they all are gone. Sad to see all of these oldie but goodie units fading away and becoming faint memories :/

[@RailPreserver2K]

Do they plan to save any

[@amessman]

Multiple funeral trains for these have passed by where I live in the last three months as of Summer 2023. Truly a shame, but years from now the Tier 4 GEvos will meet the same fate.

[@crfan4232]

They should preserve one and put it in a museum. I mean come on it was iconic for Canadian rail history. At least CP did this with their SD40-2

[@zachpetersen9425]

I have only got 3 ever leading. 2454, 4626, and 4624(all 3 videos are on my channel). May they all rest in peace. And hope 4609 gets preserved. Also good video as well.

[@Trainsbigandsmall]

I got pictures of the SD50F leading intermodals trains in Ontario.

[@Viking88Power]

Great video

[@CNGP9]

Great video and thanks for explaining the history behind them

[@ghost_pine_film_productions]

Thanks!

[@benjlar1902]

as far as i know the only one currently left in service is BCOL 4609, which is out east right now. Ive had a few of the 2400s in the lead before they were retired, the last being on a local job early 2021. classic past time power, but they were definitely aging bad. they smelled, uncomfortable, loud.. although i prefer classic DC power any day. They definitely had a good run. I still see them all the time in mac yard on the deadline.

[@railvideosbc]

Awesome documentary, the narrating is wonderful, along with the time line and the history. This video did get a bit emotional, once you are around these engines they do find a spot in your heart. It’s like losing a childhood item for good. It would have also been cool to mention that the Quebec North shore and Labrador had their own small order of the C40-8Ms.

[@ghost_pine_film_productions]

Thanks! Glad to hear you enjoyed the video! It's true, it's sad to see the engines go. Thankfully there were plenty of photos and video captured of them over the years. I considered talking about the QNS&L cowls, but I thought it better to just stick to what was on CN's roster since they're the ones everyone really remembers. Maybe someday the QNS&L cowls will get a mention on this channel in a future video.

[@railvideosbc]

@@ghost_pine_film_productions yea for real, although the era is over, I’m very grateful to have got my own photos and videos, and to just witness them with the bare eye.

[@jackkilleen47]

The only CN Cowl that I’ve seen was 2430 when I saw it leading an empty flatcar train a few years ago.

[@missourivalleyrails]

5451 is used as parts. 3 more SD60Fs were bought in may 5504, 5523, 5557

[@blackbirdgaming8147]

Fingers crossed that the second hand units eventually make it to preservation

[@missourivalleyrails]

Awesome video!

[@ghost_pine_film_productions]

Thanks!

[@a.m.m.o622]

Must still try to hang on to the c408w’s, I caught a freight manifest with a bc rail c408w trailing and operating behind a es44dc. This happened a few days ago in the time I posted this comment. This engine went thru the mt Clemens sub in southeastern Michigan where I live

[@sernajrlouis]

Cool video and channel just subscribed

[@austintheman.97]

What do the S's and the S H stand for, on the fuel tanks of the Cowl Bodies?

[@ghost_pine_film_productions]

It stands for Scrap.

[@austintheman.97]

@@ghost_pine_film_productions gotcha

[@northerncountryrailroad8939]

Sweet vid bud!

[@ghost_pine_film_productions]

Thanks!

[@DRrailfanning3115]

Nice video! Btw I always wanted to catch one of these locomotives and are the C44-9WLs as rare?

[@sodorrailproductionsrp]

Amazing

[@thedesigner00]

I got to see some

[@The_Duggler25]

I've made a replica sd60f thanks to a friend pictures. I was wondering if anyone had interior pictures of the HR616 and c40-8s cab pics are good but I would hope for the engine bay and the walkway to the engine bay

[@austintheman.97]

I thought the CN Dash 8 Standard Cabs and Wide Bodies weren't retiring. Aren't they still operating to this very day, or did some retire?

[@ghost_pine_film_productions]

Some have been retired and scrapped unfortunately. Including one blue devil, at least two standard cabs, and at least one ex ATSF CW.

[@benjlar1902]

i wish theyd retire the standard cab dash 8's. absolute junk units.

[@austintheman.97]

@@benjlar1902 I had videos of several CN Dash 8's a few years back.

[@benjlar1902]

@@austintheman.97 good memories

[@thedesigner00]

You should make a similar one but for the blue Devils

[@pablorobertodurso8892]

Where all the locomotives went in storage ?? Great video

[@ghost_pine_film_productions]

For storage there were multiple locations. Walker yard in Edmonton AB was one, as well as Winnipeg MB and in Illinois.

[@benjlar1902]

a shop in welland ontario for scrap. quite a few of them there

[@chrisdavidson8925]

QNSL had three of these cowl GE’s, #’s 401-403.

[@ghost_pine_film_productions]

That is correct. I opted not to mention them in this video because they were never owned or operated by CN - dispite being GE Cowls.

[@benjlar1902]

qnsl is junk

[@OfficialSEIC2K6]

RIP BC Rail and CN Cowl Units :(

[@robgrune3284]

would be a good video without the background noise somebody thinks is music.

[@revenniaga6249]

The early 2400s CN provided used wheels and trucks to GE to save costs. The cowl were horrible units to operate and because of their wide bodies hosling onto the train required the trainman to used radio signals instead of hand signals. Tough to climb up as stairs twisted to the front

[@darthnymruk9766]

This is a very sad story to me it came as a double hit, 1 because of the cowls. 2 it also pains me to see the standard cab dash 8’s gone too.

[@ghost_pine_film_productions]

So true, its a bitter sweet thing to see history move on sometimes.

[@darthnymruk9766]

Yeah definitely agree on that one, by any chance do you know if GE is still making standard cab locomotives or those moved on to be history?

[@ghost_pine_film_productions]

@@darthnymruk9766 as far as I know, GE is only making wide cab diesels now.

[@rottenroads1982]

Their should be a Cowl version of the GE Evolution Series locomotives. Why? So that both the Legacy of the CN & CP cowl units can Live on (Hopefully some Dash 8-40CM’s are Preserved), and so that the Eventual Alaska Canada corridor could have locomotives designed specifically for the Frigid environments up there. Seriously, EMD & GE *NEED* to make more Cowl Units. Like, they should take their Current iterations of SD (Special Duty) series & Evolution Series and make Cowl Body versions of them. IT’s NOT THAT HARD.

[@EdmontonRails]

Beautiful video, it's sad to see CN becoming as generic as every other class 1.

[@PlanesTrainsBoatsOnline]

🚂🚂🚂🚋🚋🚋🚋🚋🚋🚋 GREAT VIDEO - I Am A Real Subscriber

[@peteyblack8890]

Do railfans have the same love ❤️ for the Cp Cowl units. I don't CNs are special to me too.

[@danielfantino1714]

Even when new, these 2400´ give illusion of sagging downward frame.

[@daveyboy_]

They almost look like F9s with just a different nose. Or am I just nuts

[@HERRINRAILROADHERRINILLINOIS]

There's has too be a way too save all of them too locomotive leasing companies and rebuild all of them

[@rickdee67]

The obnoxious soundtrack makes this video unwatchable. 🤷🏻‍♂️ i want to hear the locomotives and narration.

[@ghost_pine_film_productions]

Sorry if this video was not to your taste. We make mood-proviking history documentaries, not your average train video. If you wish to see long drawn out run-bys and brief narration, I suggest Pentrex or Railway Productions DVDs - and not Ghost Pine Film Productions content.

[@GstarEdmsTrainProductions]

Too bad they're all gonna be gone

[@mamarussellthepie3995]

Know the guy who sent the bc rail engines to scrap Mega cringe Xd Epic film!