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Caption: The action red paint on brand new CP Rail M630 units 4570 and 4571 cuts through the gloom as they pass by the platforms of Leaside Station on a westbound extra freight (white class lights and flags present) with an 8400-series RS3 trailing. Not sure what was up with the matching VW bugs, perhaps some railfans out for new power, or maybe they belonged to a local company that used the parking lot.
Due to teething problems with their 65 5500-series GMD SD40 units, CP turned to MLW for the 3000 horsepower 6-axle M630 model to operate their new Locotrol (distributed power) coal trains out west. CP 4570 and 4571 were two of the 29 units purchased by CP in 1969-1970, outshopped from MLW's Montreal plant and added to the CP roster on October 17th and October 20th 1969, respectively. They were assigned to Alyth for maintenance purposes and had to get out west to their coal-hauling duties somehow, so they were worked west in general freight service, as seen here!
Eventual reliability issues resulted in the big M's coal tenure lasting only a few years, and the fleet was moved east to run out of the MLW hub of St. Luc when enough brand new (and improved) GMD SD40-2 models displaced them in coal service in the mid-70's.
Original photographer unknown, Dan Dell'Unto collection slide.
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Spent many an evening at CP Rail Leaside.
The eastward looking image is on the passenger platform east of the Station (behind the photographer).
In the distance at the base of the former CNCP Telecommunications tower is the eastbound intermediate approach signals for the Don Mills crossover displaying Green over Red – an eastbound movement is imminent.
The local Consumers Gas Company agency leased space in Leaside Station. The two toned VW Bugs are company cars.
Above the CGC van is the roof of the Ottor Freightway loading platforms. CP Rail serviced Ottor daily – the switch near that intermediate signal – typically with an ALCO S-2 such as #7064.
The passenger platform flood lights (at each end) remained in service right to the end of the Havelock Budd cars: January 1990.
The Leaside Station site (south side Belleville Sub) is now Metrolinx, for the future LRT service & storage facility.
sdfourty
Yes I spent a few Sunday’s at Leaside as part of the gang known as the LLL
sdfourty: that explains the VWs! Thanks!
VW Canada was just around the corner also