Caption: In the 1980's, the TH&B's motive power situation was getting dire due to reliability issues with its small fleet of aging first generation diesels. Parent CP Rail was often lending 4-axle power including RS18, C424, and leased B&O GP38 units. Here, CP RS18's 8733 and 8791 lead TH&B GP9 401, NW2 51 and SW9 57 in a mix of 251 and 567 noise as they climb "the mountain" out of Hamilton with a heavy rock train, seen here at Dewitt Road on the ascent to Vinemount. The two switchers were some of the only ones in the fleet equipped with MU, so were often seen working mainline trains with TH&B's Geeps and leased CP power. In a few more years, motive power officials with CP would retire the TH&B's fleet of switchers, and have the Geeps (most ended up stored out of service at John Street upon major failure) rebuilt as fresh CP 1680-series GP7u and GP9u yard units.

Reg Button photo, Dan Dell'Unto collection slide.