Caption: In the early 90's the ever power-short Canadian Pacific Railway at one point had over 180 foreign units leased, and must have been scraping the bottom of the barrel when they knocked on VIA's door to borrow some of their passenger power. The early 90's VIA cuts probably rendered some of their equipment surplus, allowing CP to get their hands on four F40PH-2D units (later increased to eight) to press into freight service during 1994-95, with some swapped in and out with others due to inspections (apparently a few were units due for overhaul, and VIA delayed their overhauls until CP was done running them ragged). The F40's passenger gearing meant they wouldn't pull as much as a normal 3000hp 4-axle freight unit, so they could often be found with a colourful array of leasers and borrowed power (many of the "rent-a-wrecks" were trail-only and not qualified to lead on CP), as well as CP's own army of red units including various Geeps, SD's, MLW 4-axles and a handful of 6-axle big M's that were pulled out of retirement for one last hurrah.

Information suggests normal assignments for the VIA F40's were on CP 900-series Toronto-Montreal freights, but they did find their way on local assignments and wayfreight work, including on jobs to Oakville, Niagara Falls, Owen Sound and Havelock. Seen here one afternoon, back-to-back VIA F40PH-2D's 6454 and 6458 lead CP GP35 5021 on what is labeled the "Vaughan Transfer" (probably a transfer run from Obico Yard in Toronto), inbound for the Vaughan Intermodal Terminal as they curve around the south leg of the VIT lead at Elder.

The VIA units were likely some of the first leasers to return when CP received their first order of AC4400CW's from GE in 1995, but even when CP was taking on its second order in 1997, motive power assignment sheets still show at least 150 leasers on hand.

Peter Jobe photo, Dan Dell'Unto collection slide.