Caption: Working hard with extra flags flapping and no shortage of exhaust, Chesapeake & Ohio GP30 3004, GP35 3561, GP30 3022 and a CP 8100-series SW1200RS climb the grade at Kelso near the former location of CP "Christie" (Mile 35.8 to the west, removed from timetables sometime in the early 70's), heading a westbound CP freight on the Galt Sub on a sunny July day in 1979.
Power-short CP commonly borrowed C&O (and B&O) power at the time, typically GP30's, GP35's, GP38's and GP40's that were painted in the older blue/yellow or the newer Chessie paint.
More CP action around Christie/Kelso: Steam-era climbing the hill: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=28855 Leased B&LE power: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=17031 F-units by the Kelso ski hill: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=17335
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Nice one Bill. CP had Chessie 4 axels well into the 80′s as I witnessed on the Mactier sub. Why the GP’s?
It is worth noting that in 1979, this stretch of track was still ABS with a current of traffic. The installation of heavier 136 lb rail on the North (Westward) track was underway as was the installation of CTC from Dixie to Guelph Jct. This was work funded by the Gov’t of Ontario for the 1981 startup of GO train service out of Milton. This train is running against the ‘Current of Traffic’, no doubt because some work is blocking the normal westward track.