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Caption: What ? Go Transit interesting? ... how time changes perspective ...
When Willowbrook opened a friend suggested we sign a release and explore. So we did.
So, for the EMD - GMD fans, at the west end of the storage / service tracks, as built, starting from the left (info from the Trackside Guide):
GO 700: built by GMD GP40-2(W), 1973; sold to CN 9661 in 1991 and re-sold to Progress Rail in February 2002.
GO 723: built by EMD GP40-M-2, 1967; for the Chicago Rock Island & Pacific #377 (then to RI #3001), acquired * by GO 723 in 1982 then traded by GO to EMD in 1993 for new F59PH #565; GO 723 then re-sold by EMD to LLPX 3205
GO 722: built by EMD GP40-M-2, 1967; for the Chicago Rock Island & Pacific #376 (then to RI #3003), acquired * by GO 722 in 1982 then traded by GO to EMD in 1993 for new F59PH #564; GO 722 then re-sold by EMD to LLPX 3211
GO 709: built by GMD GP40-2(W), 1975; sold to CN 9676 in 1991 and as of 2005 in service (today?)
GO 725: built by EMD GP40-M-2, 1967; for the Chicago Rock Island & Pacific #380 (then to RI #3004), acquired * by GO 725 in 1982 then traded by GO to EMD in 1993 for new F59PH #567; GO 725 then re-sold by EMD to LLPX 3203
At Willowbrook in Mimico, January 2, 1983 Kodachrome by S.Danko
What's interesting:
In 1982: GO acquired * seven ex Chicago Rock Island & Pacific units #3000-3006.
* likely as part of the CRI&P asset sale by the bankruptcy trustee.
For all ten bi-level car trains, the 'double header' was the common lash-up when an ex Rock Island unit was assigned.
No electronic bells here, GO engines with real ding dong bells.
The ditch lights to be standard equipment on the 1988-94 GMD built F59PH's.
Note GO 709's train is a combination of single level (essentially modified subway cars) Hawker Siddeley built coaches and bi-level coaches.
The newest bi-level's were but five years old !
And the first bi-level control cabs arrived 1983, necessitating the continued use of single level control cabs cars well into the mid 1980's.
Image of the east end of these trains:
the ACPU's
sdfourty.
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I remember watching the evening rush at Rouge Hill circa 1987. Still ran a few single level trains at peak times then, and yes, one never knew what configuration of power / APCU / APU / coaches the next train would offer. It still seemed boring then; that perspective thing really does put a shine to old memories, doesn’t it?
I think it’s safe to say that GO is now hopelessly stale and boring… with the exception of the few F59PH’s left. Who’d have thunk that’d happen!
Thanks for another gem!
Awesome shot! Please post more of these vintage GO shots if you have them- I agree with other comments about GO trains today being boring…remember growing up with these diverse and interesting consists. While it’d obviously not be practical, I sure wish these units were still on the roster, especially the FP7 APCUs.
Very nice groups shot Steve! Stuff like that was probably the order of the day back then, but today anyone shooting GO can only wish for that kind of variety.