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Caption: CP C424 4215 leads M636 4704 on train #557 through Bayview Junction, exercising trackage rights over CN's Oakville Sub to Canpa and CP's Obico Yard, with a healthy string of intermodal COFC (Container on Flatcar) traffic including some Tropical 20' cans on the lead flat. The second flatcar in with the trailer appears to be a TTX "Front Runner" 2-axle spine car.
At the time this was shot the last of CP's big MLW 6-axle fleet had been "officially" retired at the end of 1993, but some units including the trailing M636 had just been reactivated due to a power shortage when CP was scrambling to lease or run anything they could find (including VIA F40's and rent-a-wrecks). The big M's only lasted a year or less until they either failed in service, or were retired a second time. New power started arriving in Fall 1995 in the form of the 9500-series GE AC4400CW's.
Reg Button photo, Dan Dell'Unto collection slide.
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They were ‘heady’ days on the D&H back then too as CP shoveled all their old dying power down that way and it was a photographers delight. The last I saw of the 4700s was late in 1993.
Arnold, I remember reading a TRAINS mag article on the D&H, whose crews mentioned CP’s old clunkers (the old SD40′s, SD40-2′s and MLW’s) were still better than most of the D&H’s old clunkers they had run!
You’re right, Mr. Dan. Fill the road with clunkers that were totally unreliable, and you have the fodder for reporting a rather poor bottom line. Blame the (lack of) traffic, not the power.