Canadian Pacific: Diesel Leasing(Part 3 - 1971 to 1974) |
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Canadian Pacific probably leased more locomotives than any other railroad since the introduction
of 2nd generation motive power. Now, there is no published documentation to support the theory;
yet, that's been the premise of this multi-part profile since the beginning. It's difficult
not to arrive at that conclusion given the locomotive quantities involved annually, frequency
and length of leases, and number of different railroads lending surplus power.
Additionally, more "foreign power" plied CPR rails during the 1971-1974 period than at any
other time, with the largest concentrations assigned generally to the railroad's eastern
region. For whatever reason - favorable lease rates, reliability of equipment, availability
of power - Bangor & Aroostook, Boston & Maine and Bessemer & lake Erie railroads appeared
to be CPR's partners / go-to lessors regardless of the year or season. That not-with-standing,
many locomotives bearing the flags of other railroads and/or equipment leasing companies also
spotted from time-to--time on the point of general CPR freights; some names were familiar
others not so much:
In September / October 1973, CPR borrowed three "foreign-owned" locomotives to conduct test
studies on wheel-slip control systems and zero-weight transfer trucks. The three participants
were:
Interestingly, General Electric which by this time had proven itself to be a front-line
locomotive manufacturer was still not ready to compete in the Canadian market, and it would
not be
Part 4 ("1975 and Beyond") appearing in December will conclude the overview of CPR's Leasing
Tendencies.
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| Photo Gallery | |
 By 1972, Baltimore & Ohio's one-time large F-unit fleet had dwindled; some had been scrapped, others used as trade-ins for new GP38s and 40s, and at least 30 leased to Canadian Pacific. B&O #4489 and 4569 were caught while headed to the shop track at Bredenbury SK. on 17 May 1972. (Phil Mason photo) |  Twenty-year old B&O F7A #7054 was one of several ex-Chesapeake & Ohio cab-units absorbed into the B&O roster during 1968. Pictured here at Agincourt Yard in 1972 with CP RS10 #8583, the F7A still wears remnants of the previous owners "low-wave" paint scheme. (James B. Ross photo / Bruce Chapman collection) |
 First- generation cab units had character, perhaps done more so than the Alco / MLW FA as this 1973 photo of CPR FPA2 #4094 illustrates. However, the real story here centers around the three geeps leased by the Maine-based rail line to the Canadian railroad for three consecutive winters. (Phil Mason photo)
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 An unusual sight in Western Canada is this quartet of dynamic-brake equipped Bangor and Aroostook geeps (3 GP7s + 1 GP9) leading a Canadian Pacific general freight towards the Canadian National interchange at Fraser Mills in Coquitlam, British Columbia on 16 July 1972. (Ken Perry photo)
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 |  Bellequip's time in the second-hand locomotive leasing market was a short one; it lasted all of six months. The company sold its entire fleet of ex-Quebec North Shore and Labrador GP7s and GP9s to Precision National. PNC #148 splices two veteran Montreal Locomotive Works-built road units at West Toronto, Ontario in 1973.(Bruce Mercer photo) |
 Typically CPR's one-of-a-kind MLW-built Century 640 #4744 would be at the center of attention, but not this time. The focus here instead is on Bessemer & Lake Erie SD9 #822, which helps power a westbound CP extra at Campbellville, Ontario on 10 February 1972. (Doug Lawson photo)
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 B&LE F7B #712B was a frequent sight with the winter Great Lakes shipping season closure in 1963/64, 64/65, 71/72 and 73/74, and sometimes longer depending CP's need. On 23 May 1974, the four-axle booster stood idle at the Alyth Shops in Calgary, Alberta. (Bruce Chapman photo) |
 It's late February 1971 at St. Luc Yard, and there is every indication that Spring is still a long ways off. EMD-built Bessemer & Lake Erie SD9 #826 is one of several leased six-axle freight haulers based at Canadian Pacific's Montreal facility. (Bruce Chapman photo)
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 Boston & Maine managers probably welcomed the occasional opportunity to lease a few of their 17-20 year old Schenectady-built Alcos, and not have to deal with inherent mechanical issues common with old locomotives. (Bruce Chapman photo in November 1971) |
 Boston & Maine was one of Canadian Pacific's long-time leasing partners and the only lessor railroad to provide motive power for CPR road trains as well as yard assignments. (Phil Mason photo) |  Bostin & Maine RS3 #1515 pictured here at Smith Falls, Ontario on 3 July 1972, was also a common sight on the CPR during the Winters of 1970/71 and 1971/72. (Doug Hately photo / Bruce Chapman collection) |
Opening of the Soo Locks in Mid/Late March typically signaled start of the Great Lakes Lakes shipping, and recall of leased power by northern tier railroads. Thus, finding LS&I #U23Cs working on CPR in May 1971 was a surprise. (Doug Hately photo / Bruce Chapman collection) |  Lake Superior & Ishpeming U23C #2300 has the point, along with two other EMD-built locomotives, as an eastbound CPR general freight takes aim at St. Luc Yard in Montreal on a late Winter day during 1972. (Neil Compton photo / Bruce Chapman collection) |
 Pittsburgh & Lake Erie (P&LE) GP7 #1530 (ex-5679) spent the winter of 1973/74 leased to CPR, most often handling switching duties and making transfer runs. Later, the loco was sold to Morrison-Knudson and rebuilt as leaser MKCo GP7U #4302. (Bruce Chapman photo) |  P&LE U28Bs #2809-2811 have the distinction of being the only four-axle General Electric- built road-switchers to work for the Canadian Pacific since the beginning of the diesel age. Leasers #2811 and 2809 were assigned at St. Luc on 17 January 1974. (Bruce Chapman photo) |
 A harbinger of locomotive technology! The trend in 1971 was yellow and green re-manufactured four-axle EMD GP7 and GP9 lease locomotives. A half-century later, the push is for a fleet of rebuilt yellow EMD SD70ACu leasers. (Doug Hately photos) PLACE CURSOR on PNC 3634 PHOTO |  Second-generation diesels were introduced in 1966, and yet seven years later, CPR is still running solid sets of first-generation locomotives. For example, two Precision National geeps splice a pair of CPR GP9s and a lone Fairbanks-Morse C-Liner as they depart Calgary, Manitoba with a general manifest on 30 November 1972. (Ken Perry photo) |
 November 1973 United Railway Supply acquired three ex-Reading 1600-hp RS3s - #488, 468 & 472. The Alco trio received some minor repairs and a new coat of paint before going to the CPR in lease service as URS #15, 16 & 17 in January 1974. (Bruce Chapman photo) |  With the exception of two GE 70-ton switchers, the URS lease fleet appeared to be comprised
almost exclusively of Alco-built RS3s off the roster of the Reading. The #16 stands outside
the St. Luc enginehouse in November 1974; its one-year lease nearly expired. (Bruce Chapman photo) |
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Bruce Chapman, Doug Hately, Bill Linley and Bruce Mercer provided photos and data that contributed to the development of the above profile. |
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