EDMONTON — Canadian National has donated a former British Columbia Railway C40-8M locomotive — a wide-cab locomotive featuring the “Draper Taper” design behind the cab for improved rearward visibility — to the Alberta Railway Museum.
CN retired its fleet of the 4,000-hp General Electric locomotives earlier this year, but set aside No. 4618 for the museum. The locomotive was built for the British Columbia Railway but became part of CN’s fleet with the purchase of the BCR in 2003.
“We are delighted to become the custodians for this massive locomotive,” Alberta Railway Museum president Stephen Yakimets said in a press release. “Although its manufacturer, General Electric, is today the largest supplier of new locomotives in North America, back in 1990 they were still a new player in Canada. It really was the C40-8M that helped launch high-horsepower GE orders from Canada’s railways.” The locomotive will be evaluated for possible use on the museum’s passenger trains, operated during the summer, and at other special events.
“CN’s support of the Alberta Railway Museum over the years has been significant,” Yakimets said. “In 1971, CN donated its first road freight diesel, [F3A] No. 9000, to the Museum, which at the time was only 23 years old. To receive this uniquely Canadian locomotive that is now more than three decades old shows CN’s continued support for preserving its rich heritage.”
CN assistant chief of motive power William L. Draper worked with GE on the design feature that came to bear his name, which was a trademark of the 81 cowl units purchased by CN and BC Rail between 1990 and 1994.
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