Caption: Back in the 90's when CP was leasing (and in some cases, buying) any rent-a-wreck it could get its grubby little paws on, we find CP SD40-2 5644 in London leading two such clunkers, both still in their former owner's colours: HATX 918, which started off life as SP SD45 9122 before Helm Leasing acquired it, and HATX 405, which was former Seaboard Coast Line GP40 1604.

"Rent-a-Wreck" is a non-too-generous term used by some to refer to the practice of leasing companies buying up old, worn-out or wrecked cast-off locomotives ("wrecks") and leasing them out under their own name to railways short of power, often with minimal if any repainting or maintenance work to get them road-worthy. Basic patch-jobs like those shown here were common, as ratty or old paint didn't affect a locomotive's ability to pull what was coupled to it. Some weren't even qualified to lead on CP (missing cab amenities, radios and such, or not equipped with the proper end plow/pilots, or depending on the era not yet equipped with ditch lights), so were to be used "trail-only" behind CP units or leasers that were qualified to lead.

Gord Taylor photo, Dan Dell'Unto collection.