Railpictures.ca - James Knott Photo: The power for what would become CP 851 (CP 8626) rests next to what would become CN U702 (UP 7322) on McKellar Island in Thunder Bay. Both trains have recently been unloaded at Thunder Bay Terminals, with CP 850 having brought in coal loads, and CN U701 having brought in coke loads. | Railpictures.ca – Canadian Railway Photography

The power for what would become CP 851 (CP 8626) rests next to what would become CN U702 (UP 7322) on McKellar Island in Thunder Bay. Both trains have recently been unloaded at Thunder Bay Terminals, with CP 850 having brought in coal loads, and CN U701 having brought in coke loads.

Caption: The power for what would become CP 851 (CP 8626) rests next to what would become CN U702 (UP 7322) on McKellar Island in Thunder Bay. Both trains have recently been unloaded at Thunder Bay Terminals, with CP 850 having brought in coal loads, and CN U701 having brought in coke loads.

Photographer:	James Knott [534] (more) (contact)
Date:	07/04/2020 (search)
Railway:	Canadian Pacific (search)
Reporting Marks:	CP 8626, UP 7322 (search)
Train Symbol:	CP 851, CN U702 (search)
Subdivision/SNS:	Not Provided
City/Town:	Thunder Bay (search)
Province:	Ontario (search)
Share Link:	http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=42245

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Photo ID: 41035

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7 Comments

Curtis Umbelina

July 26, 2020 at 11:00 pm

Another fantastic photo man
jknott86

July 27, 2020 at 11:28 am

Thanks Curtis
Railfan99

July 27, 2020 at 9:21 pm

Coke loads as in Coco Cola? If so any idea where they originally came from like what state and/or province? Great photo James also btw, very nice power lineup!
jknott86

July 27, 2020 at 9:38 pm

This particular coke is used for steel making. The trains, which do not run regularly, originate somewhere in the US on Union Pacific, and CN brings them into Thunder Bay. They have a CP pilot for the final stretch into Thunder Bay Terminals.
jknott86

July 27, 2020 at 9:48 pm

More info on them in the comments here from David Young. Only difference is, I know this left westbound as U702 (at least that’s the info I was given).

http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=34737
SD70Dude

July 28, 2020 at 12:23 am

It’s petroleum coke, which is the residue left over by one of the processes for converting bitumen or heavy crude into lighter oil. It may not be suitable for steelmaking as it contains relatively high levels of heavy metals and other impurities that are found in crude oil. But it can be burned as fuel, just like coal.

Western Canadian refineries also produce this stuff, and CN ships unit trains of it from Fort McMurray to Prince Rupert.

A significant amount is also used in chemical manufacturing, most notably it can be converted to Calcined Petroleum Coke, which is then used to make anodes for the aluminium smelting process.
jknott86

July 28, 2020 at 8:46 am

@SD70 – thank you, that’s good to know. I’d just assumed it was heading to a mill somewhere.

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