Vol. 22, No. 10
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December 1992/January 1993
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18 Used U.S. Locomotives Join Fleet
By Ian La Couvee
Montreal - CP Rail System
received a motive power boost this year with the addition of 18 used locomotives to its fleet.
In June, the railway purchased 11, SD40-2 diesel locomotives, formerly owned by Norfolk Southern (NS),
from GATX. An agreement also was reached with Helm Inc. to purchase SD40-2 locomotives, previously
owned by Kansas City Southern (KCS) railroad, in December.
CP Rail System had leased the locomotives for several months prior to reaching purchase agreements with the
U.S.-based equipment owners, said Robert Pedicelli, director, locomotive maintenance.
DECALS ADDED
The locomotives are in service, but eventually will be overhauled and painted in the new CP Rail System livery. The
only change to date has been the addition of CP Rail reflective decals on the car body sides.
The NS locomotives retain their current road numbers, in the 3200-series, and their colour - solid
black. The KCS units, which are white, also retain their color and 600-series road numbers. The
locomotives, which have an average lifespan of 40 years, currently are assigned to diesel shops in Montreal and
Toronto.
This locomotive purchase is the first addition to CP Rail System's fleet of approximately 1,600 locomotives since
the purchases in 1988 and 1989 of 25 new SD40-2F locomotives and 62, SD60s in 1989 by Heavy Haul - US.
More than half of CP Rail System's locomotive fleet is composed of SD40-series units. The
3,000-horsepower locomotives are built by General Motors.
It's not the first time the railway has purchased used locomotives, Mr. Pedicelli said. In 1985, the railway
purchased 15, SD40-series locomotives from the Quebec, North Shore & labrador Railway. The
QNS&L units quickly were repainted in the CP Rail livery and numbered in the railway's 5400-series,
he said.
This CP Rail System News
article is copyright 1992 by the Canadian Pacific Railway and is reprinted here with
their permission. All photographs, logos, and trademarks are the property of the Canadian Pacific Railway
Company.
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