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Caption: In a most unusual lashup, a quartet of SW1200RS switchers power a mainline freight eastward past the old Guelph Jct station toward Toronto. There was once 72 units in this series, of which 71 were slated to be remanufactured to 1200 series RS1200RSu. Only 33 were done. The CP 8144, 8145, 8164 and 8150 thus renumbered 1239, 1242, 1251 and 1270, between 1981-1984. By 2013 only one locomotive of the series survived on CP, that being 8166. Despite the 'mighty-mites' this train moved along at a good clip, with 84 cars and caboose 434041 in tow.
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This was #50, and most days it had these for power, in varying quantities. That’s why when the operator told us the only thing close was “50″, we’d move on.
Thanks, James. I never knew this. Not being one who spent a lot of time at the Jct over the years, I can only recall seeing a train with this type of power 3 or 4 times. I’m glad I caught this; after all, it was still a lot better than the endless Budds and Tempos on CN.
OSR could probably arrange a similar lashup today if they wanted
I remember seeing a shot of all 4 of their RS23′s working one train sometime in the past few years.
I’m sorry I never went to Guelph Jct while the station building was still standing.
Usual power for “50″ was three “pups” as the old guys called them. Once and a while an RS-23 would be mixed in, not very often in the lead though. The power was often turned at Toronto, after servicing on “The London Pickup” or “glorified shorts”. as it was called.
It was an all stops local manned by a pool crew.
Sometimes 4 or 5 unit SW1200RS lashups were used to power extra wests out of Toronto on weekends. The additional 8100s were at Toronto Yard for weekend service and inspection, so they could go to Windsor and back so long as they were in position for Monday moprnings local jobs. This same araangement was used later with leased GO units. Out late Friday night..back Sunday suppertime or so in Toronto.
I worked a westbound one Saturday morning out of Toronto to London, with 100 cars and five 8100s. The power came off at London and was switched for something parked at the shop to take the train to Windsor.
The 8100s were good pullers and could handle tonnage trains up to Guelph Jct better than newer units like 5000 series GP-35s and 4200 series C-424s.
Anyone know why there is sheet metal in the front grab-irons? I have seen this in other shots.
JP,I believe you are referring to the striped “Plate” attached to the front handrails.. If so, its actually plywood.
Those were placed on the units in the fall for winter operations, to avoid snow packing into the radiator louvres.
A lot of snow could be thrown up as the train went along..especailly on lightly used branchlines where these engines did a lot of duty.
Believe it or not, if enough snow got in there, the units could overheat, especailly if it held them closed. The louvres were designed to open and close according to engine temperature.
Bruce Chapman explained once that snow would get in the open shutters at the front, they’d close, the snow would melt due to engine heat, then re-freeze and jam up the whole shutter assembly.
Thank you for this new information. I still see some SW1200RSu locos on the OSR. The Guelph Junction Railway unit (1210) just recieved ditch lights so it can lead the trains.