Caption: Fresh red paint cuts through the gloomy November atmosphere in Hamilton, as 2-month old rebuilt CP GP7u 1686 handles a local over the Belt Line Branch, making its way through the grade crossing in the intersection of Main Street & Gage Avenue as motorists patiently wait to proceed.

CP 1686 is no stranger to Hamilton: she was originally built as Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo 76, one of a 3-unit TH&B GP7 order built by GMD London in 1953 (units 75-77). When CP took over the TH&B in the 80's, they kept running most of the Geep fleet until major failures slowly sidelined them. According to an article in the TH&B Ontarian newsletter by a Mr. Stowe, TH&B 76 was stored out of service in 1984 due to main generator failure, and parked at the CP's John St. roundhouse in downtown Toronto with other sidelined sister units (stored there to keep them from being picked over for parts by CP shop forces). CP's motive power department had approved the units to be rebuilt as yard units as part of CP's 10 Year Motive Power Plan, and all were sent to Montreal to be cycled through Angus Shops for rebuilting in 1987-88. TH&B 76 was outshopped in September 1987 as CP 1686, and assigned to Hamilton as its first assignment. The local crews probably appreciated the new paint, new chop-nose, upgraded electronics and more reliable 16-645C engines (567C engine blocks upgraded with 645 power assemblies).

When the new GP20C-ECO program started culling the CP GP7/9u herd over two decades later, 1686 was tied up at Moose Jaw SK and retired in May 2012 (just shy of 60 years old), and presumably ended up scrapped.

Reg Button photo, Dan Dell'Unto collection slide.