Welcome Visitor. First time here? Like what you see? Bookmark us for when you are bored, and check out 'top shots' and 'fantastic (editors choice)' in the menu above, you won't be dissapointed. Join our community! click here to sign up for an account today. Sick of this message? Get rid of it by logging-in here.



One of those rare-to-find angles: GO Transit GP40TC 603 shows off the as-built rear end of its long hood a day before the official launch of GO Transit service on May 23rd 1967, sitting at GO's Willowbrook Yard by the former CN Mimico Yard freight car repair shops that GO used in its early days. Note the old CN yard tower in the background. The old facilities GO took over were located at the northeast part of CN's Mimico Yard, off Judson Street (by Willowbrook Road) and east of present-day Islington Avenue (also see Bill Thomson's photo here).  Eight GP40TC (Toronto Commuter) units were built by GMD London in late 1966 for the Government's of Ontario's new experimental passenger commuter service, basically a GP40 on a longer SD40 frame that allowed a separate HEP generator to be included at the rear. They initially emerged sporting the numbers 600-607 and were delivered in a solid coat of very very dark blue (but with black underframes) and CN noodles on the cab sides. They were used for a few months in CN freight service before GO's startup, and later had their cabs painted white and GO logos applied in preparation for GO's "Day One". The unique units, later numbered 9800-07 and finally 500-507, served GO for two decades until they were retired and sold to Amtrak in 1988, after the first order of new F59PH units rendered them surplus. A few rebuilds and paint jobs later, and they're still in service on Amtrak as de-turbo'ed "GP38H-3" units.  John F. Bromley photo, Dan Dell'Unto collection.  (A note to the modellers out there, the rear ends were modified a few times over their service lives on GO, notably the HEP hood section and rear end/anticlimber setup, so always consult era-specific prototype photos when possible. I also checked data sheet diagrams, and verified that the GP40TC frame shows the same end-to-end measurements as a standard SD40 frame).
Copyright Notice: This image ©John F. Bromley photo, Dan Dell'Unto coll. all rights reserved.



Caption: One of those rare-to-find angles: GO Transit GP40TC 603 shows off the as-built rear end of its long hood a day before the official launch of GO Transit service on May 23rd 1967, sitting at GO's Willowbrook Yard by the former CN Mimico Yard freight car repair shops that GO used in its early days. Note the old CN yard tower in the background. The old facilities GO took over were located at the northeast part of CN's Mimico Yard, off Judson Street (by Willowbrook Road) and east of present-day Islington Avenue (also see Bill Thomson's photo here).

Eight GP40TC (Toronto Commuter) units were built by GMD London in late 1966 for the Government's of Ontario's new experimental passenger commuter service, basically a GP40 on a longer SD40 frame that allowed a separate HEP generator to be included at the rear. They initially emerged sporting the numbers 600-607 and were delivered in a solid coat of very very dark blue (but with black underframes) and CN noodles on the cab sides. They were used for a few months in CN freight service before GO's startup, and later had their cabs and frames painted white and GO logos applied in preparation for GO's "Day One". The unique units, later numbered 9800-07 and finally 500-507, served GO for two decades until they were retired and sold to Amtrak in 1988, after the first order of new F59PH units rendered them surplus. A few rebuilds and paint jobs later, and they're still in service on Amtrak as de-turbo'ed "GP38H-3" units.

John F. Bromley photo, Dan Dell'Unto collection.

(A note to the modellers out there, the rear ends were modified a few times over their service lives on GO, notably the HEP hood section and rear end/anticlimber setup, so always consult era-specific prototype photos when possible. I also checked data sheet diagrams, and verified that the GP40TC frame shows the same end-to-end measurements as a standard SD40 frame).

Photographer:
John F. Bromley photo, Dan Dell'Unto coll. [930] (more) (contact)
Date: 05/22/1967 (search)
Railway: GO Transit (search)
Reporting Marks: GO 603 (search)
Train Symbol: Not Provided
Subdivision/SNS: GO Willowbrook Yard - CN Oakville Sub (search)
City/Town: Toronto (Mimico) (search)
Province: Ontario (search)
Share Link: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=40247
Click here to Log-in or Register and add your vote.

14 Favourites
Photographers like Gold.Log-in or Register to show appreciation
View count: 1613 Views

Share this image on Facebook, Twitter or email using the icons below
Photo ID: 39043

Map courtesy of Open Street Map

Full size | Suncalc
Note: Read why maps changed. Suncalc.net for reference only.

All comments must be positive in nature and abide by site rules. Anything else may be removed without warning.

2 Comments
  1. Only 601-607 were initially delivered in the dark blue. They were stencilled CN and “borrowed” in freight service during the winter of 66/67 until taken to be painted for startup time.
    The 600 was the last one delivered on 31December1966 but it came in this full GO Transit scheme. It ran light engine from London to Spadina engine facility. It was then used for familiarization and testing.

  2. Thanks for the correction Bruce, I hadn’t known that 600 managed to evade freight service and went straight to GO.

Railpictures.ca © 2006-2023 all rights reserved. Photographs are copyright of the photographer and used with permission
Terms and conditions | About us