Caption: Filthy Big M's and fresh, clean tank cars: that's what sums up this acid train departing Kinnear Yard in Hamilton, caught by Reg Button passing the brick factory along Lawrence Avenue around Ottawa Street a few days before Christmas in 1988.

The end was near for CP's fleet of 6-axle MLW power, and M636 4714, M630 4554, and M636 4727 were certainly showing it: it's almost as if the cleaners at Agincourt Yard sprayed off the front of 4714, but then took a look at the rest of the unit and gave up on sight. And faded and sooty "CPR/ail" 4554 looks like she's seen a bit too much sun and a bit too much Alco smoke in trailing status. 4727 is the most presentable of the bunch, but its fuel tank streaked in leaking engine oil won't impress the shop crews much when they need to roll out another 55 gallon drum to keep her going.

All three were retired by 1993 when the final Big M units were shut down at St. Luc, in an official ceremony on December 23rd 1993. However, some that still ran (or managed to stumble off the shop track at St. Luc on their own) were unretired in 1994 due to a severe power shortage to run out a few extra miles, and by decree from higher up, were only run until major failures. None of the three pictured were so lucky, and some of the undermaintained, ailing units reactivated barely lasted a few months before being unceremoniously shoved back into the deadline. The lucky few managed to squeak their way into early 1995 before CP put the last ones out to pasture for good (except for the repowered M636-CAT 4711, that ran until 1998, and then was sold to Minnesota Commercial. A "Cat with 9 lives" maybe, as the Sartigan Railway has now acquired it).

Reg Button photo, Dan Dell'Unto collection slide.