A Blue Devil and a Barn: IC 2457 & BCOL 4617

Up until a few years ago, Canadian National had one of the most "eclectic" locomotive rosters of all the major railroads. Absorbing half-a-dozen other roads will do that, leaving several different types of models running around in their original owners paint, patched for their new owner, or in some cases fully repainted into their new owners colors. While CN still does maintain this oddball-approach to its roster for the major part, recently the railroad has purged several older GE models to the deadlines for scrap. The main target of this purge was the vast majority of all of the "Dash-8" models, including the two seen here.
On a still-summer day in September 2020, CN/IC C40-8W 2457 and BC Rail C40-8M 4617 were teamed up to take Chicago-bound manifest out of "Fondy". The duo drew a crowd their entire run south, especially where we first catch them at North Duplainville, slowing into the siding for a meet. A quick zip ahead south of Waukesha, and we're waiting at the Vernon Marsh crossing as they continue their southbound journey, now rumbling along comfortably at track speed.
2457's bright blue color should give away it's ancestry. Built new in 1994 for Conrail subsidiary "LMS Leasing", the engine served under both the LMS and Conrail flags until Canadian National acquired it in the early-2000s, along with several other sister C40-8Ws. Interestingly, instead of fully repainting the units, CN elected to keep them in their blue and patch them for IC use instead. Of course, eventually they would spread across the entire CN system, but never once shed their blue in favor of CN orange, black and white. The same can be said for the "Barn" it leads, BC Rail C40-8M 4617. Like the 2457, it is a "Dash 8". However, its interesting variation is that it possesses a "Full Carbody", enclosing the entirety of the locomotive. 27 of these were built for BC Rail in 1990, and all became CN property during the buyout of 2004. Several made it into CN colors, but 4617 was one of the handful that did not, serving out the entirety of her service in her original red, white and blue. Now, as of this writing, both engines are in scrap lines awaiting their fates, if they have not been cut up already.
Enjoy Everybody! There is plenty more to come!