CN's HR 616s 1992 - 1998

Only 20 HR-616s were built (by MLW/Bombardier) - all for CN in 1982. All were retired by 1998 and most were scrapped.
This video shows 15 of these units operating in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia between 1992 & 1998.

[@synthfreakify]

Very nice! Once I asked a CN employee at Mac yard if they had any HR 616's around and he said, "You mean those engines that go clunk clunk clunk?"

[@david-othen]

I think the video proves the truth of that remark! I always loved the sound of those units as they throttled up along with the inevitable black smoke from the turbocharger!

[@ctf6420]

@@david-othen Wish they were still around, but it is rumored that there are 5 or 6 at NRE Silvis, although they may have been scrapped.

[@matthewq4b]

@@ctf6420 They are gone now.

[@ctf6420]

@@matthewq4b That's sad :(

[@matthewq4b]

@@ctf6420 Agreed, at least one should have been put aside or acquired for preservation.

[@davidpoor8638]

I can remember those big HR units when the SLR was running them through Groveton NH years ago on 393 & 394! Between Milan and Groveton they had such dynamic augment the SLR restricted them to 20MPH on that section. After those "went away" they had several of the new 6000 series rebuilt SD40's for a spell. About the last actual CN units they used were the brand new SD70's and SD75I's CN bought. For several years, that old GTNE line was a "catch-all" for many different CN units. And we'd be up that way switching Groveton with our old "well used" units! Love these videos David! Thanks for putting them up!

[@david-othen]

+David Poor Interesting memories!

[@stantout4337]

Once again David. Thank you love the smoke and mechanical noise. Stan UK.

[@TonyFleetwood]

thank you for this video and the other ones like it! i love the HR six- sixteens!

[@david-othen]

Tony Fleetwood You are most welcome. Glad you enjoyed them.

[@canadianrailfan1532]

These locomotives are awesome! They will be missed!

[@9751asd]

Canadian Railfan 5 still exist in Silvia

[@canadianrailfan1532]

@@9751asd hmmm interesting

[@9751asd]

Canadian Railfan update: sadly the surviving 5 were scrapped last year:(

[@canadianrailfan1532]

@@9751asd ahhhh thats unfortunate

[@TonyFleetwood]

i love how the bell on 2108 changes its ring rate as the horn blows

[@briansokoloski776]

Tony Fleetwood must be using up a lot of air pressure

[@haroldalexis4200]

3 times a charm. Great shots of these fleets of CN Rail diesel trains ex units from other railroads & visitors! 😃 the freight cars are exciting to watch! Do I want exact replicas of all of these In HO Scale & others! 🤣 Beautiful 🎥 video! 👋👋👋👋👋

[@ghost_pine_film_productions]

Very cool video! I wish I could've seen more of these units in service. Would I be able to use some of the footage from this video for one of my own documentary about the end for the Cowl? The video is mostly about the GE ones, but I talk about the MLW and EMD ones a bit as well, and the overall history of the draper tapers.

[@TrainGeek]

Hi, I manage this account for David's widow. Sorry, you may not use any footage from this video.

[@galaxyrailfanning7860]

Wow great video! Those things are awesome!

[@erikg.2666]

Love the classic 251 bark!

[@Kondoge]

whats that mean?

[@JordosGarage]

@@KondogeAlco 251

[@geac9100]

Good chase of the gypsum train. I enjoy ALCO engine sound at run 8.

[@anb740]

They may have been built by ALCO successor Bombardier, but they still smoked just like an ALCO!

[@grahamsawyer831]

Massive beasts. Love it.

[@alcobufff]

Hi would it be ok if I used some of this footage in my upcoming KZbin video on the M420?

[@bobbyglendinning2406]

I subscribed, thanks! What bulk material are these open gondolas hauling and what was the origin/destination of these unit trains?

[@TrainGeek]

Hi Robert, those gondolas haul gypsum from the mines at Milford, Nova Scotia to the port in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia for shipping.

[@bobbyglendinning2406]

@@TrainGeek Thanks!

[@scaleyardmarine]

Great job david

[@WilliamHBaird-eq2hp]

AWESOME DAVID!

[@david-othen]

Thanks Will. Glad you and your readers are enjoying it.

[@jakethecake1000]

Would love to know what the theme song is in the beginning.

[@david-othen]

+jakethecake1000 It was a piece of royalty free music that was labelled COMM03

[@ulrichseufert9464]

Very nice!

[@Opinionatedguy1989]

I wonder how long the would have lasted on the Delaware Lackawanna railroad, had they got their hands on them.

[@jamesleopard8518]

6:45 What type of diesel locomotives are they?

[@harrimanfox8961]

GMDD SD40-2W

[@Tcaauwe2002]

most of the HR616's are still at NREs silvis backlot intact.

[@david-othen]

I wonder if there is much that can be used after being stored for many years.

[@pkranz937]

David Othen parts. Fairbanks Morse still manufactures the Alco 251F.

[@harrimanfox8961]

Think they're all gone

[@magicalintel5867]

What was the engine 2100 called

[@bryanwithers4997]

HR 616 Built by bombardier

[@loganmalough2379]

Why were all the units scrapped? They seem useful.

[@imprezzed42296]

On March 23, 2013, HR616 2112 was located in Silvis, Illinois. www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3434081 She's in the very top of the photo.

[@david-othen]

Many thanks - I have included the information in the description.

[@briansokoloski776]

Seen plenty of Zebras

[@amtrak713productions8]

Some are still at nre sitting collecting rust

[@harrimanfox8961]

They're all gone

[@IGuessIDoThings]

Canadian railways seem a lot different than American ones which is odd considering how similar the two countries kinda are

[@zemoosehunter]

A folkswagen emission, hehe.

[@david-othen]

+George Kusz Alco engines were note for their smoky emissions.

[@rearspeaker6364]

naaaa, ALCO's are UN euro8 certified clean burn........!!!!!!!!

[@HyperActive7]

Why did these have such a short life? They seem like scrappy units.

[@david-othen]

HyperActive7 They had an upgraded power unit that was not very energy efficient and there were only a few units in a large fleet of GM locos so keeping spare parts across the country was a problem.

[@briansokoloski776]

@@david-othen should have rebuilt the engines

[@jamesstuart3346]

Hard to believe CN's Wet Noodle paint scheme is over 60 years old. Still the best railroad livery anywhere

[@draganasselin8602]

OMG CN Train

[@jamesleopard8518]

6:45 These diesel locomotives look like they are from the movie 🍿🎥 Atomic Train 🚃🚂 1999

[@ZombieSlayer-dj3wb]

Nope , their m420's in the movie

[@1990scottsdale]

There is 5-6 left that are known of.

[@david-othen]

Yes - it is surprising that so many are still around although I doubt if many are in working order.

[@1990scottsdale]

When they acquired them, they where operational, which was 1998.. lol

[@david-othen]

I doubt that leaving sitting for 18 years has mproved their performance!

[@1990scottsdale]

+David Othen It's a nice capital investment lol

[@david-othen]

In historical artifacts!!

[@davebolyard6808]

can I ask what size engine those are thanks Dave

[@GintaPPE1000]

The HR-616s used the ALCO 251G (V-16, 3200HP).

[@torquetrain8963]

668 cubic inch per cylinder × 16

[@briansokoloski776]

Seen plenty of Zebras

[@haroldalexis4200]

P.S. if my older model trains in HO smoked like this 3 things would happen: I would probably be cursing, The motor or the commutator is getting slowly burned & or ruined & 3 hopefully not the Fire Department! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. Seriously unless they're newer scale models that have these features I'm watching. They're only available in O gauge which ones in HO is a mystery at this time..🤔

[@torquetrain8963]

Turbo EMD + Alco 251 v16, we just need a burbling Baldwin to make the locomotive trinity. Sacrilege yes, but God made man who made locomotives. I still give HIM the glory!!!! Jesus keep me from idolatry and deliver me from materialism!

[@briansokoloski776]

Some must need engine work too much Blue and Black Smoke not good in Canada

[@tyfrank3427]

Is it just me or do ALCO diesel engines run like shit?

[@rearspeaker6364]

they don't fall apart,and they don't catch fire like a GE!