Comments on: I have the impression that CP’s 20 Trainmasters were the “units that never quite fit in” to CP’s 1950s and 1960s roster. Built in 1956, the 8901 was originally equipped with steam generators for passenger service and ran long hood forward. By the late 1960s, it was one of several H-24-66 units demoted to yard and transfer service at locations across the system including Toronto and Montreal. Some ended their days in hump service at Alyth. I have seen several photos of the 8901 in the Montreal area in 1968, 1969 and 1970–perhaps another one of our members and comment on how long Trainmasters were in Montreal and which assignments. (I would guess transfers to Hochelaga and the Port of Montreal but that’s my speculation.) http://www.railpictures.ca The BEST Canadian photos on the Internet, eh? Fri, 25 Sep 2026 17:05:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: MrDan http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=57343#comment-70093 MrDan Fri, 21 Aug 2026 14:28:27 +0000 http://www.railpictures.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/CP8901St-Luc-Jan1970-DWClarkc.jpg#comment-70093 Not sure on the Montreal area assignments, but according to a May 1970 CP power distribution summary, 8901 and 8917 were assigned St. Luc, 8903-8909 to Alyth, and the trio of 8900, 8904-8905 assigned to Nelson. A lot of the others had already been retired by then (see: https://cptdb.ca/wiki/index.php?title=Canadian_Pacific_Railway_8900-8920) Both 8901 and 8917 were retired in April 1972 and cut up at Angus Shops, that was likely the end of TM's operating in Montreal. The trio from Nelson that migrated to Alyth Yard ended up being the final units in service, lasting until 1975. In the 60's Toronto had a pair assigned to Lambton Yard for transfer duties (photos show 8909, 17, 18, 19 assigned there at various times, in 1965 it was 8917-18). I suspect 8921 replaced them as the regular transfer engine around town at some point. Not sure on the Montreal area assignments, but according to a May 1970 CP power distribution summary, 8901 and 8917 were assigned St. Luc, 8903-8909 to Alyth, and the trio of 8900, 8904-8905 assigned to Nelson. A lot of the others had already been retired by then (see: https://cptdb.ca/wiki/index.php?title=Canadian_Pacific_Railway_8900-8920)

Both 8901 and 8917 were retired in April 1972 and cut up at Angus Shops, that was likely the end of TM’s operating in Montreal. The trio from Nelson that migrated to Alyth Yard ended up being the final units in service, lasting until 1975. In the 60′s Toronto had a pair assigned to Lambton Yard for transfer duties (photos show 8909, 17, 18, 19 assigned there at various times, in 1965 it was 8917-18). I suspect 8921 replaced them as the regular transfer engine around town at some point.

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