Locomotive # 8704

Model S-13u.

This is an ex-Canadian National S-13u locomotive number 8704, donated to the museum on March 11, 2003, by Canac Inc., which is a locomotive and equipment leasing company based in Montreal.

The locomotive was originally built for the CNR in 1959 by Montreal Locomotive Works as model S-13.  The CNR purchased 49 units in the same year and numbered them 8500-8522 and 8600-8625. The latter units were equipped with MU control for operation in hump yard service, and were heavier, had dual sealed-beam headlights, different gearing and traction motors. The locomotives were delivered in the black and yellow livery with the maple leaf monogram under the cab window.

In 1978 CN began to reclassify some 8600 series units into hump (100 series) and yard (300 series) units.

In 1984and 1985 twelve units from all four series (100, 300, 8500 and 8600) were rebuilt (most, if not all, in Moncton N.B.) into the 8700 series and re-designated model S-13u: 

  • the rear cab door was changed so that it opened outwards
  • the cab windows on the driver's side were changed so that there were two shorter vertical windows (same size as left side) with a horizontal window below them
  • dual sealed-beam headlights were fitted to those units that did not already have them
  • three chime horns were added, either mounted on the cab roof or somewhere between the stack and cab
  • the trucks were converted from plain bearing to modern roller bearing axels
  • later in their careers the deadman pedals were removed and a safety reset control was added along with a ‘Datacord’ (black box)

In 1997, CN retired the last S-13u and most of the 8700 series was transferred to Canac Inc. At the time, Canac was an internal company created by CN to sell and lease locomotives, and also sell equipment and track materials.  Canac also offered switching services along with track instillation and maintenance.  Over the years Canac cut back its operations to just the sale and lease of locomotives and equipment and the development of new railway technologies like their Beltpack (or remote control systems).

This brings us to the recent history of ‘our’ locomotive:

  • Canac acquired the 8704 on August 8,1997
  • in 1998 they leased it to Ciment St-Laurent, Joliette QC for a short period of time
  • the locomotive then went to Simplot Canada Ltd in Brandon, Manitoba
  • during the summer of 2001 8704 was returned to Canac
  • it was then shipped to Transcona shops in Winnipeg, Manitoba, for storage

In the fall of 2002, during a telephone call on an unrelated matter, it was brought to our attention that Canac was considering disposing of this locomotive.  After months of phone calls, a donation contract was signed and on March, 11, 2003, the 8704 officially became the first locomotive in the collection of Alberta 2005 Centennial Railway Museum.

 

 

This is the paint the S-13 series was first delivered in to Canadian National in 1959.

Photo from the George Carpenter collection. Taken August 1964.

 

 

 

 

This is the museums locomotive before it was re-built and re-numbered to 8704.  This was the second paint scheme applied to the S-13 locomotives.

Taken at Maple, Ont. on September 20, 1972.  George Carpenter Collection.