Caption: A CP consist is heading towards their train that was assembled on the departure tracks at CP’s Toronto yard. The unique lash-up included VIA Rail 6458, CP 5608, VIA Rail 6452 and CP 4742. At the time power short CP was leasing anything they could. Also, the big 6 had just been un-retired during that winter when the railway had re-activated the remaining operable big MLW-built fleet due to the growing motive-power shortage.
This was the only time we were fortunate to see a CP big and leased VIA F40’s together and we almost missed it as the power set had quietly departed the shop area. We were able to catch-up to it along the parallel road before they coupled to their train. It is likely why the photo has some motion blur as there unfortunately was not much time to set-up.
This was likely a 900-series junk train that was destined for the Belleville Subdivision and ultimately for Montreal. Hopefully, some others to the east photographed it that day as well.