Caption: CP GP9 8634 heads up two hump sets, resting between duties at CP's Alyth Yard in Calgary Alberta. After the three remaining CP Train Masters were retired in the mid-70's, CP started using GP-F7B-GP sets for hump duties. By this time the F-units were getting long in the tooth and nearing retirement, and many of the B's ended their lives working in hump service. Older roadswitchers like the 8400-series GP7's also found their way into yard and hump duty.

Three chop-nosed GP9's (8633, 8634 & 8635) were regulars at Alyth Yard, having been chopped in the early 70's as an experiment for better visibility in yard service (they also had their dynamic brakes removed). Note the unique "pointed" chop nose that some of CP's early chops received (only 8633-35, 8530 and 8492), along with the EMD-esque front numberboard assembly that became standard on CP's later Geep rebuilt program.

While most of the F's would be retired in the early 80's, the GP7 and GP9 fleet would be rebuilt and continue on in yard and local service for another few decades. CP 8634 would be rebuilt as GP9u 1579 and keep working yard duties until being retired and sold to ILSX as their 1319, then to DLCX.

Keith Hansen photo, Dan Dell'Unto collection.