Railroad Loco's In Alberta

[CPPedler]

I'm modelling the C.P. in the Calgary area as it is currently and would like to know what other railroad's loco's could I expect to find there apart from C.P./SOO and the odd C.N.
Living in U.K., I can't just nip down the road and have look . Can someone please advise . Thanks PLS.

[Anonymous]

I've been to Calgary several times and while CP and Soo are pretty much the main engines that you will find, there also could be lease units. These are engines that railroads rent from a leasing company and you do see these on CP often. The most common are CEFX. There's also HLCX, though. Below are examples of the CEFX units that I often see on CP. Unfortunately, I don't think there are any models made of them, but I'm not sure. Someone on here ought to know.



Also, don't just be thinking about current CP locomotives. CP has some F units in their old maroon and grey paint scheme that they use to pull their Royal Canadian Pacific excursion train as well as other special runs. The home base for these engines is Calgary. They also have GP38-2 3084 as well as a Fairbanks-Morse C-Liner that are in this paint scheme and are also stored in Calgary.


Good luck on your layout! I'd love to see it!

[CPPedler]

Thankyou for that info Sask_Tinplater.
I was wondering more about U.P. and B.N.S.F. etc., I have a F7A and F9B in the pipeline, also looking for a H1b Hudson. The layout is being built as time permits. 29' x 10' with a future extention into the garden with a return loop giving around 220' run , with DCC. Should keep me busy into retirement. PLS

[tatans]

I'm pretty sure if you stick with just C.P.R.. locomotives you will be correct, I live in Calgary and don't see other road's locos pulling freight, just the odd leased unit or an engine that has not been repainted to C.P's colours. I don't think it is a policy in North America to send locos on 4000 mile trips on other railways lines (maybe they do?) but we don't see too many here, also Calgary is just east of the Rocky mountains so I would assume there is some very large motive power here to get the goods west over the mountains as opposed to tooling around the prairies. Have you, or anyone figured out the lettering and logo scheme on the new locos? what's with the logo on the left side of the lettering on one side then on the right on the other side, or has this been corrected or is it intentional? Also to the east, in Saskatchewan the C.P.R. has it's heavy haul division in Moose Jaw, where you can see a LOT of motive power, some leased from leasing companies and some from other railroads plus a massive shop network and freight yards which is easily accessible for train watching without infringing on railway property. If your timing is right you can see whole trains( 95 cars and real cabooses) of flat cars with British army armoured vehicles on their way to Suffield, Alberta for training excersizes.

[Anonymous]

PenLocoSuper: I can't help you on other roads locos in Canada. Here is something that may be of interest. Every so often, a CN loco passes by my house. I live in East Texas, USA. Don't know if it's leased, or owned by a railroad company who didn't repaint it.

Robert

[CP5415]

It would be a pretty safe bet that the occasional UP locomotive would find it's way into Calgary since both the CPR & UP seem to have a healthy working relationship.
I've seen UP on CPR here in Ontario which is a lot farther away from UP home tracks than Calgary would be.

Just my 2 cents

Gordon

[CPPedler]

A BIG THANKYOU to all you guys out there, who are prepared to answer questions what might appear to be obvious to local folks , but not so to us limeys.
The only question that I can answer is that the newish C.P. Beaver crest is done deliberately like that to fit the available space and to still look esthetically correct . You will notice that all the AC4400's that are in this livery have the crest trailing on both sides whereas the SD90's have it trailing on one side and leading on the other. I'm quite sure that is the reason , I can't believe they would screw up with a whole class of loco's. PLS

[CP5415]

Just thought about this!!!!

Being Calgary, since this is where most of the painting takes place, you might even find a D&H unit waiting for service.

Gordon

[CPPedler]

Thanks Gordon,
I guess most of C.P.'s repaints would pass through the Ogden Shops. PLS.

[gpharo]

I live in Edmonton (300km north of Calgary), which is predominately CN because of Walker yards.

However, in southern Edmonton are the CP tracks and I have often seen Santa Fe tank cars (all black with with white text).

Furthermore, I have seen a lot of Burlington Northern freight cars on both the CN and CP tracks.

gp_haro

[tatans]

QUOTE: Originally posted by gpharo

I live in Edmonton (300km north of Calgary), which is predominately CN because of Walker yards.

However, in southern Edmonton are the CP tracks and I have often seen Santa Fe tank cars (all black with with white text).

Furthermore, I have seen a lot of Burlington Northern freight cars on both the CN and CP tracks.

gp_haro

But what locomotives were pulling them?

[gpharo]

All the Santa Fe tank cars that I have seen have always been sitting in a small yard. There not always there on the same spot, they show up from time to time. In regards to Burlington Northern, I have seen them being pulled by CN,CP and Soo locomotives.

Now that I think about it, I have seen a Union Pacific loco on CP track. And my friend who lives in south Edmonton has told me that he has seen Union Pacific locos a handful of times.

Maybe I have bad timing, but the only other American loco (of a big road name) that I have seen in Edmonton is an Amtrak.

[CPPedler]

Thanks datashead, thats great I thought that other railroads would get that far north/west.,but just not too sure which ones. Interesting that S.P. got there. PLS