Caption: GMD units were typical of the power Canadian Pacific ran in the west during the 1970's, even more so when the CLC power was being retired and MLW's sent to the east. A glance at a CP Power Distribution summary for the Pacific Region shows plenty of GP7's, GP9's, FP7's, B-units, SW1200RS, SD40's and SD40-2's assigned to the maintenance base of Alyth in Calgary (as well as M630's and H16-44's for a time, and some smaller SW900 and S3/S4 switching power).

Reflecting that is this solid all-GMD consist: GP9 8693, GP7 8409 (part of CP's very first order of GP units, 8409-8411), PNC GP9 130 & GP7 118, and FP7 4062. They're seen at the south end of Alyth Yard by the Bonnybrook / Bow River bridge, possibly a power move waiting to head into the yard to pick up their train.

The two PNC units were originally built by GMD London for the Quebec, North Shore & Labrador Railway in Quebec. A bunch were sold to newly formed Bellequip to lease to CP around October 1971, and the Bellequip units changed hands to larger US-based Precision National Corp (locomotive rebuilder and leaser) effective February 1972. During their CP tenure the PNC's were split between Alyth and St. Luc for maintenance, and they lasted until the mid-70's traffic downturn that saw them all going off-lease in July 1975. Most were then scooped up by the Chicago & North Western RR in short order, who had embraced a program to acquire and rebuilt many old secondhand Geeps at the time (they were more cost-effective to purchase and rebuild, compared to buying new GP38-2 units from EMD).

As for the CP power here, all of their serviceable GP7 and GP9 units were rebuilt as GP7u/GP9u yard and roadswitcher power under CP's 10-year motive power plan starting in 1980. The remaining freight F's were retired in the early 80's and scrapped, although some were kept for Montreal commuter service (4070-4075 & 4040, later to MUCTC/AMT) and Alyth hump power (a few 4400-series B-units). Overhauled trucks off retired F-units (done by Ogden) showed up under the first order of new 3000-series GMD GP38-2's delivered in 1983.

Doug Wingfield photo, Dan Dell'Unto collection slide.