Caption: A dramatic downturn in traffic during 1975 resulted in some surplus CN power being parked. Here, a lineup of nearly new GMD GP40-2LW's sit in CN's MacMillan Yard with their radiator fans, exhaust stacks and horns covered over (similar scenes elsewhere on the system were likely). CN 9400-9419, 20 units in sequential order that had been built the previous year in 1974 (some still sporting relatively fresh paint), sit stored at the west side of CN's MacMillan Yard (south of the diesel shop, just north of the Langstaff entrance) await the eventual call back to duty.
CP, also affected at the time by the traffic downturn, used this opportunity to retire their FM/CLC fleet and return leasers.
Bram Bailey photo, Dan Dell'Unto collection slide.
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20 units elephant style in sequential order is one of those things I wouldn’t believe happened, were there not this fine piece of photographic evidence.
I remember this.Also when they were built CN couldn’t pay for them so they were stored at London East until the cheque cleared. Bruce
Yes, Bruce: I recall seeing some somewhere with tarps over them stored…maybe at London??
For those of us with little seniority, we were laid off Nov. to Jan. during this downturn in Edmonton. You knew something had to give when you couldn’t make your 5 for the week on the spareboard.
Quite the sight, and great light for this too.