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Caption: CN SW1200RS units 1204 and 1208 (1204 the first CN SW1200RS built, and both part of CN's first order delivered in 1956) switch Danforth Yard in Toronto's east end in June of 1980. A crewmember hops on the rear unit's foodboard as the pair moves away, past an old 40' boxcar bearing the old maple leaf "wafer logo". The apartment buildings in the background at Main St. & Danforth Avenue were probably some of the first that sprung up in the area, built on former coal yard and lumber yard property in the early 1970's (that may have caught fire before then).
Danforth Yard was CN's main east-end Toronto yard (smaller than the main west-end Mimico Yard). Equipped with a roundhouse and steam servicing facilities, it was at the top of a helper district from Union Station that often saw large 4100-series 2-10-2 steamers assisting heavy trains on the 1.2% grade climbing eastbound out of Toronto. A good number of lumber, coal and aggregate industries that used rail service were also located around and nearby the yard in this part of Scarborough. There was also, of course, a CN station here, and later a GO Transit station (the old CN station building was demolished in the mid-70's).
Danforth Yard's importance declined over the years as steam transitioned to diesel, industry moved out of the city, and freight traffic was shifted around Toronto proper to MacMillan Yard to the north. By the 80's Danforth was basically used for MofW car storage and repairs, and also had a bridge repair shop on the property. Those operations were closed in 1986, and the yard was eventually removed and sold off for redevelopment in the late 90's. Little remains today except for a GO station and some local railway-themed street names.
Bill Grandin photo, Dan Dell'Unto collection negative.
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Great shot taken by Mr. Grandin Dan, glad you posted it.
Great shot! I spent many a year in the early to mid 70′s working at the CN Danforth Work Equipment shop that you mention in your caption. It was right next to the CN Steel Bridge shop. Both very busy places at one time.
http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=42224
http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=50544
Thanks for the links Paul, I must have missed those!
There was yard lead to the west of Main St. leading to some sidings up a hill. I heard CN stored bridges there in later years. Do you know what that area was originally for?
First SW1200RS units built for CN, no, no, no!! CN 1504-1508 were delivered beginning in September 1955 to February 1956. The 1204 was delivered in March 1956. The oddity is that the 1200s were on order C-190 while the 1500s were on order C-191. Another oddity is that the 1200s are class GR-12d and the 1500s are class GR-12e. However, all of the 1500s were delivered before the 1204 even though they appear to be ordered after and have a classification after the 1200s.
Thanks for sharing this great shot. Love the riding on footboards!!!
Hmm, looks like you are correct First954. Odd that that bunch of five (1593-1597/1222-1226/1504-1508) was numbered after the earlier numbered units (1575-1592/1204-1221), but had earlier builder’s numbers and build dates.
I remember reading the CN data sheets once and seeing those 1500-series units were heaver than standard 1200-series SW’s, so perhaps that’s why they were slotted and left in the 1500′s with the GTW units.
You are correct on the weight of the units. The 1504-1508 tip the scales at 246,000 pounds while the 1200s weigh 225,000 pounds. But here is another oddity as the 1204-1216 weigh 225,000 pounds; the 1217-1221 weigh 246,000 pounds. The 1204-1221 are all in class GR-12d and from the same order number.
There are other “weight” oddities in the CN fleet, for example, the light weight GP9s start at 4206, but the 4496-4501 were once numbered 4200-4205 and are lighter than normal GP9s at 240,000 vs 246,000, but heavier than the 4206+ units at 232,000. All of the US built 1500s weigh 247/248,000 pounds.
In November of 1974 I snapped CN 1204 in front of the station in Caledonia, ON where the CN Hagersville and Dunnville Subs. once met.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/197431498@N07/52846640603/in/album-72177720307794299/