Trackside with Erik and Mike Vol. 28 Recap: Where's the U.S. flag?

[Bergie]

Am I a paranoid American? First, read this week's installment of Trackside with Erik and Mike. If you know what's going on with the U.S. flag on that CP "dual flag scheme" SD40-2, share it with us here.

Thanks,
Erik

[Anonymous]

Gosh, I'm no expert, but it looks like someone cut several holes in the doors and installed some sort of air filter or vent. That's about the oddest place to do that, though.

[Anonymous]

Look, I am a proud Canadian and like to see the Canadian flag flying. I am sure you are proud American and like to see the American flag flying. This joining the two flags just does not go over with me. Put the Candian flag on one side and the American flag on the other with CP in between, this would be better in my books.

[Anonymous]

It is indeed a pair of vents, they are quite common on CP locomotives mostly SD40-2's and GP9's I'm not sure exactly what they're for but my educated guess would be for the air filter but thats just my oppinion I could be wrong.

As for the placement this is also common on almost all the units probably some patriotic Canadian shop crew at Alyth [:)]

No Offence Eh!

Ryan

[Anonymous]

HEY, ERIK, DISGUSTING HOW USAGE TENDS TO DETERMINE LANGUAGE; IGNORAMUSES CAN AND DO DICTATE WHAT IS PROPER, IF ENOUGH IF THEM GANG UP ON THE ACCEPTED NORM!
THE BLUE LANTERN

[Anonymous]

I APOLOGIZE FOR THE TYPO!
THE BLUE LANTERN

[wcnut]

Maybe a comment on the proposition to require passports when traveling between the US & Canada and US & Mexico? Maybe not... [:D]

Greg "wanting to visit Canada again before strip searching becomes legal at the border" Wcnut

[winnipegtrainguy]

Ths was the shortest lived paint scheme CP ever had. It lasted less than two years. When it was introduced, the uproar in Canada over the "Americanization" of such a beloved Canadian institution could be heard from St. John's, Newfoundland to Victoria, B.C. The Canadian media, which must've been having a slow news day, gobbled up the story like a starving dog devouring a greasy pork chop. CP changed the logo back to the beaver shortly afterwards. I t doesn't surprise me that the U.S. flag was "erased" on the remaining locomotives. Every Canadian railfan I know despises that logo. It regularly gets booed when it shows up in a slide show or a powerpoint display. I hope I'm not starting an international incident here, but a lot of Canadians get a little paranoid about their sovereignity being swallowed by their neighbours to the south. It's not anti-Americanism. The phrase commonly used in Canada about dealing with the United States is "Sleeping with the elephant". This was coined by former Prime Minister Pierre Eliott Trudeau. Every time the elephant tosses and turns, the person sleeping with the elephant is bound to feel it.

[Anonymous]

The "markings" on this unit are indeed air filters and the placement of them is purely mechanical. These carbody filters put the air intake towards the rear of the unit, which helps prevent them from clogging with snow and freezing when the unit is used in snowplow service. CPR has refitted several units in this fashion and the placement of the filters is the same regardless of the paint scheme of the unit; I have even seen units in the new beaver paint fitted with these. Check out http://www.cprroster.com/CP%205753.htm. Although I will agree with Winnipegtrainguy that the much-maligned dual flags logo was an absolute travesty, there is nothing political about this unit whatsoever.

[Anonymous]

I guess that link didn't post properly. For those who are interested, check out www.mountainrailway.com. The motive power section has several examples of units that have been refitted this way, notably in the 5700 series. The beaver unit I was trying to post is number 5753.

[UPTRAIN]

Look, you Canadians are alright...but I really wi***he railroads north of the border would keep their noses out of American Railroadind, with the buying up railroads and what not, no offence to our neighbors up there.

[espeefoamer]

goldenbeaver,that second website you posted didn't work either[:(].