Comments on: Rough unit in a rough hood. You never know who or what might show up down by the train tracks in some parts of Toronto, in this case a ratty and well-worn CP GP40-2 4652 rolls through Bartlett Avenue crossing on the North Toronto Sub with SD40-2 6030, working train #T56, the transfer from Toronto (Agincourt) Yard to West Toronto/Lambton Yards. The conductor on this day, known in some circles as “oeuf”, is wearing his signature Pink Floyd touque as he leans out of his trusty steed, having just generously contributed/chucked a document-wrapped water bottle to the bystanders and miscreants trackside. He later expressed great preference and fondness for this “greasy” set of power, despite its outward rat-rod appearance.When CP purchased these eight former Guilford GP40-2 units from Helm Leasing (4650-4657), they weren’t too quick to repaint them, and some got fresh red paint while others continued to run in patched fading Guilford grey/orange for years, some so long that the original B&M blue started showing through. Apparently as the story goes, the guys down on the former D&H got so sick of seeing the Guilford paint on these units (bad memories from the D&H’s Guilford era?) that they roller-brushed 4650 and 4653 red themselves and applied non-standard lettering. 4652 wasn’t so fortunate, and the unit continued to run around the Toronto and Ontario area eluding the paint shop as the unofficial “Guilford heritage unit” (even causing a large wreck on the Belleville Sub in 2009) until it was finally sidelined and retired (since sold to Northern Plains RR, maybe they’ll paint it someday).

By: MrDan

MrDan — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 22:53:59 +0000

You should’ve gone to Bartlett more Steve, you missed out on all the free water bottles.

By: Driver8666

Driver8666 — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 14:50:57 +0000

Somehow, I can’t get enough of the water bottle being captured in the air.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 14:28:11 +0000

Cool photo! I didn’t get these very often.

By: Todd Steinman

Todd Steinman — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 11:17:19 +0000

Interesting paint. But amazing catch too! Although not as colorful,I remember a time when those blue and yellow DTI units were included as power on CP. I was at Bayview shooting one Saturday while my wife was working. Little was I aware then that there was some great railfanning areas along the Flamborough Sub. Never chased them…wish I had.

By: mattwatson

mattwatson — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 00:57:51 +0000

Good news, it was repainted by NPR in 2019, ironically in CP red.