Comments on: A quick stop at the Lake Ohara turnoff and the mid-morning sun made for good lighting as No.2 approaches Stephen. That is milepost 124 on the far pole.

By: MrDan

MrDan — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 08:23:34 +0000

The 1400′s in VIA paint were all repainted by CP, but the VIA 6550′s were CP units rebuilt, repainted and VIA/CN-ized by CN’s PSC shops. According to an old LBC post, 6557 was outshopped by PSC on February 1982, so its paint is still only a few years old. It looks like the sides were just recently repainted again, but the older paint on the front and roof are flaking badly. It boggles the mind why they didn’t sand- or grit-blast the old CP paint under it off the first time, as a lot of those units were getting pretty ratty and worn out in their final years on CP.

Apparently when 6557 was overhauled CN wired the MU backwards, and when CP tried to use the freshly overhauled 6557 on The Canadian between two units wired correctly…well…it was rejected and returned to CN in short order. It’s now at the Cranbrook museum as the only surviving CP FP9, renumbered back to 1409.

By: Brundle

Brundle — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 21:12:56 +0000

I heard rumour that this location was named after some important engineer fellow that worked at the model T plant?

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 17:58:02 +0000

I like the name of the location.

The lead unit needs paint. But it gives this shot unique charachter.

By: Brundle

Brundle — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 17:21:26 +0000

About the impeccable 6557. In opposite of the 6557, the immaculate 6300 is on the other end and is very fresh, having only been re-built Dec./83. It does beg the question, why wouldn’t VIA take the extra few minutes in Vancouver to wye the units, put their best nose forward.
Regardless, I love the red sticking out everywhere on this one. Thanks Joe.

By: Joe Harrison

Joe Harrison — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 13:45:59 +0000

Wonderful shot Seth. Great light, rich colors, and the weathering is impeccable.