(drawing copyright Shane Stewart)
CN Dash 8 Family
The CN Dash 8-40CM locomotives were purchased in two lots from GE in 1990 and 1992. They produce 4000 horsepower and have six-wheel C-C trucks. They can travel at 73 miles (117 kilometres) per hour, but are restricted to 65 (105 kilometres) per hour.
CN 2415
- Dash 8-40CM, class EF-640a, built 1990
- 2415 was involved in an accident at mile 47.4 Ashcroft Subdivision 16 Nov 1996. Along with 2502, it was pulling an empty coal train eastbound along the Thompson River in BC when it struck a landslide of clay on the track. 2415 derailed and ran off at right angles to the track, stopping just short of the river. It was not possible to recover 2415 immediately. The river subsequently rose up around the front of the locomotive.
- recovery attempted 16 Feb 1997; locomotive rolled over on its side
- on 3 Mar 1997 trucks were cut off to facilitate recovery
- sometime after 3 Mar 1997, 2415 was recovered from the accident site and hauled to Kamloops where it stayed till late Apr 1997
- arrived Edmonton 27 Apr 1997 dented, mangled and covered with mud, but on wheels
- [photo]2415 in Edmonton after the accident. This photo was taken in Apr 1997.
- Montreal for repairs
- back in service late June 1998, repainted in newest CN paint scheme
- as trailing unit behind Dash 9 CN 2599 and SD40 CN 5330 struck a loaded dump truck in Langley BC, 23 December 2002; derailed and cab bady damaged by containers that piled up on top of it
CN 2418
- Dash 8-40CM, class EF-640a, built 1990
- derailed 17 June 1999 near Canoe River on Albreda Subdivision (BC) due to extensive flash flooding in the area; also involved was 5428; ten cars derailed; locomotive returned to service
CN 2430
- Dash 8-40CM, class EF-640b, built 1992
- around December 1997, 2430 struck a semi-trailer near Petitcodiac, about 20 miles from Moncton, NB on the line to Saint John. Apparently the cab of the truck damaged the engineer's side, then the trailer wrapped around the other side and did most of the damage. The locomotive spent a long time in rebuild at Alstom.
- released from Alstom end March 1999 without all repairs completed; moved to Transcona to be finished
CN 2440
- Dash 8-40CM, class EF-640b, built 1992
- lead unit (ahead of SD40 5363 in collision with semi-trailer truck at Firdale MB, 2 May 2002; not touched by the subsequent major fire
CN 2444
- Dash 8-40CM, class EF-640b, built 1992
- On 19 Apr 1997, 2444 struck a mudslide approximately 16 feet high and 100 to 150 feet long at about mile 118 of the Clearwater Subdivision (north of Kamloops). Locomotive was seen in Edmonton a short time later with damage to the front end and mud everywhere (even on top).
CN 2452
- Dash 8-40CM, class EF-640b, built 1992
- on 31 January 1999, along with 5432 while trailing 5410, ran head-on into 5257 and GCFX 6064 in the yard in Jasper, AB; only minor damage
![[photo]](img_2415.jpg){kind=link}