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Introduction
Roster Schedules Railfanning Locomotives 1 (SD40s) Locomotives 2 (C-424s) Locomotives 3 (RS-18s) Locomotives 4 (RS-18s) Locomotives 5 (RS-18s) MOW 1 (plows) MOW 2 (plows) MOW 3 (Jordan spreader) MOW 4 (flanger) MOW 5 (crane) Revenue cars Links |
CFQC 3000CFQC 3000 is billed as an RS18-3a. It was originally CP 1864, and became NBEC 1864 before undergoing a major overhaul at the IRSI shops in Moncton. The overhaul started about August 2003 and ended in May 2004. 1864 was renumbered to SFEX 3000. SFEX 3000 was relettered on April 13 2005 for the Quebec Railway Corporation, the owners of the NBEC, CFMG and others, and became CFQC 3000. 
CFQC 3000 at Miramichi, NB on January 10, 2006. 
SFEX 3000 in Dalhousie, NB with NBEC 1866 on May 24 2004. Photo by Nicolas Kiss, used with permission. 
CFQC 3000 freshly relettered in Campbellton, NB on April 15 2005. Photo by Nicholas Kiss, used with permission. 
A closeup of the QRC lettering. Photo by Nicholas Kiss, used with permission. 
A closeup of the Operation Lifesaver lettering below the cab window. Photo by Nicholas Kiss, used with permission. NBEC 3000 Upgrades - By Phil Ross
Q-Tron System A QES-111 Locomotive Performance Enhancement System designed and built by Q-Tron was installed in this locomotive. A complete rewiring and re-cabling of the 3000 was done as this system was installed. Some of the main features of this system are:
Fuel savings will also help lower operating costs with the addition of the auto start/ shutdown feature. The 3000 will auto start when water temperature, air pressures or battery voltage drop below a preset value. The unit will run until all three are within specified ranges.
Airflow A new bulkhead was constructed between the main generator and the engine compartment separating these two spaces. This separation of compartments will help keep the air clean which is drawn through new air intakes and grillwork installed over the main generator. This filtered air is used for Traction Motor cooling as air enters at this location. Pressurized air from the blower is then routed to the traction motors. Some of this same pressurized air from the blower is also rerouted through another set of filters located behind the cab and then used to pressurize the main electrical cabinet behind the cab of the locomotive. This positive pressure will help keep computers and electrical components free of dirt and contaminates. Cooling air for the main generator is also drawn from this area and is exhausted on the engine side of the bulkhead. This creates a positive pressure in this compartment, which exhausted through resized (smaller) filters near the top of the long hood. These openings provide addition cooling for dynamic brakes. One positive note for the train crew is the addition of a ventilation pipe to the short hood of the unit where the toilet is located. The pipe is mounted near the suction side of the traction motor blower. Any foul odors will be drawn out of short hood.
General Other external upgrades are 120 pulse/second axle generators to all axles, self-centering draft gear, and yellow flashing warning lights at either end of the hoods. These amber beacons will start to flash with an audible alarm as a warning when unit is about to self-start. NBEC has compared its pulling power with a standard RS-18 and has found a 27% increase in the cars it is able to push up a .9% incline. This is due to the wheel slip/wheel creep control gained with the Q-Tron system. Many thanks to Phil Ross of Moncton, NB for his permission to use this article. Other photos of this engine can be found: |