Ontario Northland is bringing back a piece of its rail history.
The Northern Ontario rail company has restored its EMD SD40-2 No. 1730 locomotive to its original green and yellow paint scheme.
The SD40-2 were released in January 1972 and were known for their power and reliability in any type of weather condition, something that is much needed for a railway operating from North Bay to Cochrane, Moosonee, Hearst and Rouyn-Noranda.
“It’s important to recognize our past as we move forward,” said Grant Bailey, Vice-President of Transportation.
“Our skilled tradespeople have overhauled and modernized this locomotive that will continue to pull freight efficiently for years to come. At the same time, it will serve as a proud reminder of our railway’s rich history and place in the development of the north.”
Renee Baker, the communications manager at Ontario Northland, says the restoration has created quite a buzz.
“The rail industry is full of rail fans and a lot of employees who worked on it are excited to be part of a project like this,” said Baker.
“There’s been so much social media feedback and chatter in the office how wonderful that we did that.”
The locomotive will be put back into service this coming winter.
