Caption: Probably the most interesting second hand SD40 ‘s CP picked up were the former Southern / NS high hood units, originally built in 1975. While CP had no use for the high short hood design, the price was right and CP needed power badly. Most of the units were simply repainted and pressed into service with all cab windows painted out and control stands removed. At least one or two units remained in NS black paint for most of their careers on CP. It’s interesting to not that NS and Southern considered the long hood the front of the unit, but when CP repainted the units some received the “F” on this end while others had it applied to the short hood end. In the end it probably didn’t mater as the units were simply “B” units anyway. Here we find CP 5478, ex Southern 3246, sitting in London yard not long before it’s retirement. The unit was officially retired and sold to Progress Rail in 2005, and the entire fleet was gone by the end of that year.
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