Comments on: Hoisting a locomotive on jacks to allow a truck to be moved out for a traction motor change was a regular work procedure at the CP/E&N backshop in Victoria, but the pictured one of Baldwin CP 8001 on Saturday 1975-03-01 carries special significance. Just ten days later came instructions to shut down all CP Baldwin roadswitchers (seven remaining of the original thirteen after various mishaps) after twenty-six years of being maintained in that shop, so 8001 was the last to ride those jacks. As a three-year employee there at that time, that hurt, and I often wondered what the longer-service folks (some of them well over half their careers) felt.

By: Ian Malenfant-Picard

Ian Malenfant-Picard — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 05:04:05 +0000

Sad to think this was likely the last picture taken of these engines while being in active service…

First954 — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:04:26 +0000

Great historical photograph. It is always great to see the clutter within a railway backshop. Thanks for posting.

awmooney — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 14:24:44 +0000

I can only imagine the significance this had for you. In many ways. Great image; and of course, exceptionally historical.