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Caption: The late 1970s was a great time for leased power on CP, but in this instance, what appears to be, isn't. In the mid-1970s C&O and CP entered an agreement to rush a HOT train to Toronto which originated in California, I'm guessing with the Southern Pacific. The "Salad Bowl Express", as named by CP's advertising manager, used run-thru power from C&O to save time and get the fresh fruits and veggies to market ASAP. Here we see the #942 east (counterpart was #937)thundering past the old station that used to control the junction (Mile 94.3) of what was the CP line connecting St. Marys and Tillsonburg. C&O power was about as plentiful back then as white SOOs were a few years back on CP. They were out there, but it took some luck to spot solid lashups. Notable in this image: Other than the mainline, there is nothing remaining except that vine covered pole. And the switch for the north side, now a spur to the limestone quarry near LaFarge, which is a busy industry here, resulting in limestone dust all over everything, as evident on the train order signal and the 'dark' roof. Power is C&O 3006, 3525, 3529 and 3002. Like many of those "ideas", the Salad Bowl Express was rather shortlived.
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An A.W. Mooney classic image! Are you sure that’s the “salad bowl express” though? It looks like there’s a lot of mixed freight on the head end.
Oh, she’s the “Express” alright, Mr. Smith. Perhaps they should have named it the “Excess”; seeing in this image the train has already been ‘doctored’ by CP adding freight to it in the manner CN’s Intermodal #148 now has misc freight on the head end. Anything to save a dollar policy usually leads to the demise of a dedicated train. They never learn.
I had that thought after I posted my question. Thanks for the explanation Mr. Mooney.
CP really was the ‘Lord of the Fill’ before CN started. And probably only on CP will you find double stacks on the headend of a crude oil or ethanol train, but that consist would be hard (impossible) to duplicate now. Another timeless classic, Arnold!
I used to work at Zorra as the afternoon operator in the summer of 1967. Hooping orders to the head end of a hotshot like this could be challenging.
Spectacular!!
Mr. Mooney, you did it again ! Awesome, can just hear those C&O diesels blasting past the old Zorra Station !! Is that a GP30 on the point ? Although I arrived at Zorra Station on Sat April 27, 1957, I never took a picture of the station. Arrived on the St Mary’s mixed, with a most accommodating engine crew who allowed a cab ride in D10 ten-wheeler 1086, to Zorra. I have before me Canadian Pacific Railway Coach ticket stub 697475, “From St. Marys Ont To Toronto Ont via Direct Line (don’t you love it, like there is some other CP route ?), stamped on the back by the St Mary’s validation stamp, with the date “Apr 271957”. Also have coach ticket number 637476 to ride from St Mary’s to Lakeside, Ont., where the cab ride began. Ticket number 697475 was for a two part ride, with train change at Zorra. It being a Sat and thus switching at St Mary’s Cement Plant at a minimum, we arrived at Zorra early enough to run into Woodstock ahead of No. 22 from Windsor & London. However, had to get back into the combine before arriving in Woodstock in case a Trainmaster was lurking around. Neat composition including the station and its minuscule platform, the order boards and the diesels in what appears to be “the 8th notch”. Thank you very much, much appreciated !
Well, railway guy; I am glad you are enjoying some of these old pics. Not THAT old, mind you, but things have certainly changed. I guess back in 1957 there was ‘something’ at Lakeside; perhaps a station? They used to be everywhere.
I (and others) certainly got a kick out of your adventure; things like this I can only imagine, having never been in the cab of a steam engine unless it was some tourist effort.
Galt sub to the employees and Direct Line to the public? Thats amusing…….:o)
And yes, GP30 on the point, and this train certainly passed with a thundering roar. I loved the days when it felt like the ground was shaking when a heavy train was running by seemingly wide open.
Lakeside station is still standing, moved to a spot by the cemetery, if I recall.
I worked on CP when 942/937 started. They were pulled into the short lived Powell siding at Windsor, coming off the C&O from Pelton Jct. I don’t recall ever hearing the term “Salad Bowl Express”. That must have been a marketing thing that never trickled down to front line operations. Power on those trains was shared C&O GP-30 or 35w, CP offered either 3 4200s or 3 GP-38s, mostly low numbered ones, 3000, 3004 etc. Power eventually became all CP, then any combo was possible.By 1979, this power would have been leased rather than pooled.
Thanks, Ronald, for info and the lead to looking for Lakeside Station.
I heard the term ‘Salad Bowl Express’ from a retired CPR guy who worked the power pool.