Caption: New and only four months old at the time, Canadian Pacific RS18 8796 sits on the shop tracks in Lambton Yard near the steam-era coaling tower with sister unit 8740. At the time CP was purchasing various diesel locomotives from GMD, MLW and CLC as part of its ongoing dieselization efforts to phase out steam by the end of the 1950's. CP, reluctant to buy more MLW roadswitchers due to issues of the previous 244-powered units like the RS10, purchased a 20-unit order of RS18 units in 1957 featuring the new 251 engine (8729-8748, of which 8740 was added to the roster on April 30th 1957) and liked what they saw, so followed up with a 52 unit order the next year in 1958 (8749-8800, of which 8796 was added to the roster on July 9th 1958, as per the Dean & Hanna CPR book).

Being equipped with standard 75mph gearing (vs EMD's 65mph) and pass-through trainlines, they would be versatile locomotives in both passenger and freight service. Some of the later units like 8796 were delivered with the lightweight AAR-B style trucks without the center spring pack, also found on the smaller RS23 units. These trucks would get swapped around onto various first-generation Alco/MLW road units for years (the practice seemed to end around the mid-70's when CP starting getting rid of their 244-powered units). The RS18's would be rebuilt as 1800-series road units in the 1980's (CP 8740 became 1804, and 8796 became 1836. Despite the yard unit number series, they retained their 75mph maximum speed rating for road service) and would soldier on until the final MLW's were retired in 1998.

Original photographer unknown (possibly a Bill Grandin photo), Dan Dell'Unto collection negative.