Comments on: CP C424 4215 leads M636 4704 on train #557 through Bayview Junction, exercising trackage rights over CN’s Oakville Sub to Canpa and CP’s Obico Yard, with a healthy string of intermodal COFC (Container on Flatcar) traffic including some Tropical 20′ cans on the lead flat. At the time this was shot the last of CP’s big MLW 6-axle fleet had been “officially” retired at the end of 1993, but some units including the trailing M636 had just been reactivated due to a power shortage when CP was scrambling to lease or run anything they could find (including VIA F40′s and rent-a-wrecks). The big M’s only lasted a year or less until they either failed in service, or were retired a second time. New power started arriving in Fall 1995 in the form of the 9500-series GE AC4400CW’s. Reg Button photo, Dan Dell’Unto collection slide.

By: awmooney

awmooney — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 11:43:56 +0000

You’re right, Mr. Dan. Fill the road with clunkers that were totally unreliable, and you have the fodder for reporting a rather poor bottom line. Blame the (lack of) traffic, not the power.

By: MrDan

MrDan — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 04:48:53 +0000

Arnold, I remember reading a TRAINS mag article on the D&H, whose crews mentioned CP’s old clunkers (the old SD40′s, SD40-2′s and MLW’s) were still better than most of the D&H’s old clunkers they had run!

By: awmooney

awmooney — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 02:04:56 +0000

They were ‘heady’ days on the D&H back then too as CP shoveled all their old dying power down that way and it was a photographers delight. The last I saw of the 4700s was late in 1993.