Comments on: Wherever this unit came from, it looks like it put up quite a fight to get here. Canadian Pacific SW1200RS 8123 sits in Aberdeen Yard after doing battle with some snow drifts along one of the lines enroute to Hamilton. A large chunk of snow sits perched on top of her numberboard assembly like a top hat, more snow is built up on the top of the hood (likely from busting through heavy snowdrifts), and packed into the front pilot, in the stepwells, and against the snow shields (painted plywood bolted to the front handrail assembly to keep snow from building up, melting, and freezing in the radiator shutters). At least one of the white extra flags managed to survive the winter melee. It looks like the crew dug themselves out the back of the unit, as evident by all the snow on the ground cleared from the rear steps and walkway. Reg Button photo, Dan Dell’Unto collection slide.

By: RonaldB

RonaldB — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:05:17 +0000

I believe that was the intention Mike, but I’ll bet at least a few units ended up retaining them through the warmer weather. It’s interesting to note that they also painted them in the newer red & white stripes, to match units with the new paint scheme.

By: TMike

TMike — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 23:11:40 +0000

Did the railway remove the “snow shields” in the spring- then re-install in the fall?

By: RonaldB

RonaldB — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 20:49:04 +0000

This unit might have been leading or trailing (leading northward earlier) unit in power from Goderich too. You can see clearly why those plywood ‘snow shields’ were applied to the front handrails in winter.

By: Kevin Flood

Kevin Flood — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 02:24:16 +0000

Based on the photo showing limited snow in Hamilton, this engine must have dealt with lake-effect snow from points north and west. Very neat!

By: Brundle

Brundle — Sat, 20 Feb 2021 15:53:40 +0000

Even the re-rail frog is full of snow.