Comments on: The Ottawa Valley railroad as we know it today was created in Oct 1996 using CP trackage from Sudbury, North bay to Temiscaming. It started off known as “Trans-Ontario Railway” (TOR) and 6 GP9E locomotives. Things changed very quickly though, and it was RailAmerica by 1999 with a tremendous assortment of motive power coming and going thru the fledgling years. Of the “Original 6″ 4200-4205, here are 4 of them in North Bay yard late on a nice June evening in the setting sun as storm clouds move past to the east. RLK 4202, 4203, 4204 and 4201. The Trackside Guide indicates 4200 and 4202 went to the Southern Ontario RLK later in the year and 4204 relocated to Lakeland Waterways RLK in late 1997.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Sun, 13 Apr 2025 00:51:07 +0000

This is a great photo Mr. Mooney.

By: MrDan

MrDan — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 23:10:18 +0000

These were all ex-SP GP9E’s that were built as high-noses and chopped by SP.

There’s some mixed details on 4202, I suspect it was an early GP9 that was rebuilt after a wreck with later GP20 components. It’s unique in the bunch as it was a former passenger unit. As-delivered as SP 5602 it had a steam generator and standard air tanks under the frame, split fuel/water tanks and roof DB. At some point it was rebuilt like that with the later GP20 style air and fuel tank components. In later years it worked in commuter service out of San Francisco as SP 3009.

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 17:28:26 +0000

Thx for the info James and Marcus. I kinda wondered about the similarity of the units.

By: Marcus Stevens

Marcus Stevens — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 16:57:49 +0000

Yes all former SP GP9′s, leader 4202 looks similar to a GP20 as late model GP9′s shared many parts with them especially when EMD began offering the GP9 with a chopped nose. The air tanks were also relocated. I miss these old units especially 4200, which ended its days in Hamilton. Great photo!

By: James Gardiner

James Gardiner — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 19:53:25 +0000

@Phil I believe you’ll find they’re all former Southern Pacific GP9E’s

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 19:27:17 +0000

Great pics..I wonder what the heritage of those units are? The 4202 looks like a GP20?

By: Joseph Bishop

Joseph Bishop — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 18:22:27 +0000

This is awesome!