Nice shot of these old units Dave.
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Once again you produce a picture worthy of admiration, Dave.
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Another good souvenir of the original paint jobs.
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Another classic scene from Dave. Thanks.
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Dave, Great shot, I lived about 5 blocks from here and spent many wonderful days watching the activity around the old Qubece St roundhouse, any more like this ?
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Simply fantastic.....Thanks for posting
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| Posted by MrDan on February 13, 2009 | |
MLW beauties! Too bad more of those units didn't survive the scrappers.
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Another Lomotive I put into service as a CGE Sdervice Engineer in 1950 on it's maiden run between Montreal and Smiths Falls Ontario. I can't remember if it was this unit or a later one that we delivered to the CPR yards that a handler managed to run off the turntable and the brand new unit fell into the well----it was a good topic of conversation that day---------never did hear what happened to the 'handler.'
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What comes back to my memory when I look at these Road Units is when the first units were delivered to the CPR Rail Yard in Montreal in 1950. I remember climbing aboard the unit and coming face to face and introducing myself to the Engineer----I faced a man who was dressed for a Steam Locomotive----the usual overalls with a bandana around his neck, Goggles on his head and gauntlet gloves on his hands with strings tied around his calves, not forgetting the tool box--all set for the steam and cinders.
Here was a beautiful cab with heaters and windshield wipers (no need for him to stick his head out of the window anymore to get a better view ahead.) A padded seat with an arm rest.
A week or so later I was on another new unit being put into service when this same engineer climbed on board---I did a "double take"------the same man climbed on board wearing a business suit with collar and tie and a brief case (with his lunch inside) a Trilby hat and dress overcoat that he hung up on a coat hanger that he had brought with him----------a complete transformation-----I might add that he still had the tool box, so that once we started to move he placed it on the "Dead Man Pedal" so that he could wander around the cab when we were high tailing down the road at 50 -60 mph with a train of 60 or more box aand hopper cars (Approx. 4,000 tons)
I stood next to the console and blew for the crossings----the fireman and front end brakeman were dozing by that time.
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