Comments on: Two sets of Union Pacific 1600-series Alco FA1/FB1 units are shown parked at CP’s Lambton Yard engine terminal in March of 1964. Rather than reactivate some of their stored steam engines, in the early 60′s power-short CP opted to lease surplus power from other railroads instead. Rumour has it UP pulled their FA/FB units from the deadlines to lease to CP in 1963/1964, and they mostly ran in solid UP sets. The units were built in the late 40′s and after years of use on the UP were at the end of their lifespans. Upon return to the UP, they were used as trade-in credit to EMD the next year, and ultimately all scrapped.

By: RonaldB

RonaldB — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 03:11:36 +0000

These were leased a few years before I started with CP, but the “old guys” mentioned them from time to time. I worked in CP’s MLW covered wagons & they had seen better days by the time I worked in them. That said, the old timers said the UP units were really dilapidated, dirty, shabby & much worse than CP’s. Also, apparently, they would not MU with CP’s power so were kept together in sets.

By: robin lowrie

robin lowrie — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 20:50:00 +0000

In theory, CP had 250 steamers stored serviceable until 1962. This according to the book “Canadian Pacific Diesel Locomotives”

By: PRR5406

PRR5406 — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 14:15:57 +0000

Great story with an interesting twist. It’s a shame CPR didn’t pull out a few larger freight steamers. I guessing quite a few had been stored well and had plenty of boiler time left on them.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 02:14:46 +0000

Gosh.. you really think CP could have fired up the steam??

What a set though. didn’t realize the FA/FB’s didn’t last that long on UP

By: mile27

mile27 — Sun, 16 Jun 2019 21:20:45 +0000

Nice. Incredible scene from the past.