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Caption: During my trip to Toronto and Whitby, I anticipated a CP 242 to pass through with a CEFX AC4400CW leading with three DME SD40-2's close behind. Didn't happen... Knowing CP's unpredictability, that shouldn't be a surprise. They ended up being dumped in Windsor to be put on CP 254. Well by the time I found out late that evening I was sure 254 was in the states, however, this train has been known to die in Welland and scramble its entire train. Sure enough, it did, and 254's online units took off and opened the spotlight for these lovely units. While CP 6242 and CEFX 1031 left afterwards, the DME units remain for now, which consist of 6366, 6363 and 6360.
Looking for the DME units upon arrival was a daunting task, and it took me several minutes to catch a glimpse of 6360 between the array of stored cars a containers from CP 142. Situations like this is exactly why I decided to get a drone, and it paid off. Remaining low-key with a device that has been known to send people into panic was important, and the relatively long-range of the drone allowed for it. Just under a kilometer away near a stack of railroad ties next to the northwest corner of the yard (barely visible in the left background) I stand while CP 142 works the yard next to this DME lashup.
For these DME units, the sunset marks likely marks their coming to an end. These units are supposedly headed to Buffalo for scrap. With the many CEFX AC4400CW's and FPON units floating around on CP, Mr. Harrison appears to be finding more cost savings in leasing and temporarily borrowing power than fixing old assets. As of now, most SD40-2 power under CP ownership that still exist are either dead in transit or stored. These ex Milwaukee Road and SOO units sure had a good run, each with 42 years under their belt.
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Great shot!
Great work here. Excellent write up, I might add.
Daniel, CP units are found all over other railroads as trains run through . i.e heavy crude trains from Alberta to Port Arthur Texas via KCS – hence the reason you see KCS units on CP from time to time as they equalize hours. As of Wed, CP had about 660 units in storage across the system due to efficiency gains and the commodity slump.
Thanks guys!
@snake, that makes sense. I am aware the states have had power varieties like no other until recently, and CP units could be found on CN as well. Interesting how CN has kept foreign power out of southern Ontario except for a few instances on 383 (two CSX units) and 399 (one UP unit). Then again, they’ve barely been shipping crude. Be interesting though to understand the efficiency ratings of repairing old power vs. leasing and borrowing foreign power.