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OUR COVER PROMO: Perhaps the most perfect train in the world, the CP Canadian strolls along the Bow River in Banff National Park. Next stop: Banff. Then on to Calgary, Alberta and points east. A CP Rail FP7-FP9 combo have seven-car off-season sized train in tow. Nonetheless, the "Skyline" dome and "Park-Series" dome observation car remain to this day, a key part of the consist. The location we dubbed "God's curve" is better known as CP "Morant's Curve", named for CPR's famous company photographer Nicolas Morant. This photo on May 4, 1978 at Morant's Curve east (Mile 113 Laggan Sub) of Lake Louise, Alberta.
The 2023 CPKC Holiday Train tours Canada and the United States Nov. 20 through Dec. 19, raising money, food and awareness for the important work that food banks do in their communities. Professional musicians play free concerts from the brightly decorated train's stage. CPKC makes a donation to the local food shelf at each stop and encourages attendees to also donate. Since its inception in 1999, the CPKC Holiday Train has raised more than $22.5 million and more than 5 million pounds of food for community food banks across North America. https://www.cpkcr.com/en/community/HolidayTrain
After a performance in Hermon, the CPKC Holiday Train is seen led by CP 2249 heading Northbound to Brownville Junction on the CPKC Bangor Subdivision running along the Sebec River in Milo, Maine. Bob Boudreau took this shot on November 21, 2023. (See our "CP News" Section below for the consists).
Great Shot! Brian Caswell beautifully captured CP GP20C-ECO 2246 leads the Holiday Train (CP O2H) in Britton, Michigan on November 24, 2023.
The CPKC Holiday train was shot by SpeedShot Train Photography in November rolling through Britton, Michigan farmland around midnight, on its way to Chicago. They made a stop in Windsor Ontario for a presentation then came through the tunnel to the USA. After a release from customs, they got on the move again through Michigan to Indiana on the NS Wabash line. Next stop Elkhart Indiana for crew change then to Chicago, IL.
Our friend Tom Rutkowski confirmed (As of November 24), that CP SD40-2 6061 is still located at Progress Rail LaGrange/McCook, IL, but has since been moved to this new location, offering a better view.
Griffin Montgomery beautifully captured Army Military Tribute SD70ACU (CP 7020) leading CPKC Train 302 at Albion, in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, in the nice morning light on November 14, 2023.
Cleaned-up and complete with a Brand-New engine, CP GP20C-ECO 2266 is shortly to be released from Progress Rail in Muncie, IN. (See our LOCOMOTIVE SHOPS Section).
Ballard Receives New Order from CPKC for Additional Fuel Cell Engines:
More 12, 200-kilowatt fuel cell engines are planned for delivery in 2023 and are to support the development of CPKC's additional hydrogen-powered locomotives planned for regular switching and local freight service applications in Alberta. According to Ballard, the additional locomotives will be partially funded through the Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) program, which "helps the province deliver on its environmental and economic goals and will in turn support the decarbonization of rail transport by funding hydrogen production and refueling infrastructure along with hydrogen-powered locomotives." Over the past two years, Ballard has supplied CPKC with 38 fuel cell engines for use in its Hydrogen Locomotive Program, with combined fuel cell power of 7.6 MW.
This was the first time Dave Franklin had caught a train go northbound in daylight hours with a KCS leading on the Mactier Sub. CPKC Train 423 only had the one KCS 4589 leader today and was starting to pull on Sunday Nov 5, 2023 out of the siding at Bolton, Ontario, at 3:50 pm after having met CPKC 112 on the main line with the CP SD70 7057 as DPU on the rear end. (sorry I only had my phone with me at this time to take the picture).
The last train for David on Friday, November 10, 2023 (during daylight hours) was CPKC 112 south, with CP 7042 leading KCS 4866 at Mt Pleasant Rd. In Palgrave, ON, at 5:08 pm.
A surprise on the tail end was UP 7101 DPU pushing on the rear of CPKC 112 as it rounded the curve at Palgrave ON, on November 10, 2023, at 5:10 pm
KCS 4683 was shot on the rear end of CPKC Train 112 is seen here in beautiful light taken by David on Thursday November 9, 2023, at 3:51 pm in Bolton, ON.
After having met train 113 at Bolton, ON, CPKC Train 420 (with CP AC4400CWM 8112) makes its way southbound passing the only grain elevator still in existence on the Mactier Sub t Nashville Rd, in Kleinberg, ON. Dave Franklin took this shot at 4:12 pm on November 10, 2023, with storm clouds in the background but with bright sun on the train locomotives.
CPKC Train 113 lead by CP 8784 and KCS 4891 have just departed Vaughn Yard and in beautiful sunlight are passing at Nashville Road in Kleinberg, ON, at 3:50 pm on Fri Nov 10, 2023.
Rebuilt AC4400CWM (CP 8137) was beautifully shot by Lukas Ouellet new the EXO station in Dorval, QC, on November 22, 2023.
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Canadian Pacific News
CPKC assignment C700-11 (with CN 5642, CN 2252, 0L, 98E, 0R, 2078T, 5349FT) was proceeding Eastward on the Main track when a vehicle, travelling on Hwy #1 which parallels the right of way, left the road and sideswiped empty covered hopper car SOO 118718, at mile 29 of the Cascade Sub. No derailment. No reported injuries to the lone occupant of the vehicle. No DG involved. (2023/11/12)
CPKC assignment 401-15 was proceeding westward in Golden Yard, BC, when it derailed but remained upright, TILX 333170, CBFX 307098 and TCIX 175247, as well as loaded tank car GATX 109761 (LPG - UN1075), on its side, at mile 142.5 Windermere Sub. Fire department on scene. No leaks. No fire. No reported injuries. (2023/11/16)
Southward CPKC assignment 148-16 struck a vehicle at Public Crossing equipped with SRCS+STOP signs, at mile 81.98 of the Weyburn Sub. Emergency services responded. No derailment. No leaks. Both occupants of the vehicle sustained minor injuries. (2023/11/19)
CP HOLIDAY TRAINS 2023:
The Canadian Version of the CP Holiday Train (as of month-end) was completing all their scheduled stops in the Province of Ontario.
• November 27: Finch, Merrick Ville, Smiths Falls, & Perth
• November 28: Belleville, Trenton, Brighton, Bowmanville, Oshawa, & Toronto
• November 29: Vaughan, Barrie, Mactier, Parry Sound, Shawanaga, Rutter, & Sudbury
• November 30: Cartier, Chapleau, & White River
• December 01: Mobert, Heron Bay, Marathon, Schreiber, Nippigon. Thunder Bay.
• December 02: Ignace, Dryden, Vermillion Bay, Kenora, Ingolf, and Whitemouth all the way to Winnipeg, Manitoba.
through though from Detroit, Michigan into the Chicago area Overnight Friday PM - Saturday AM on November 24-25th. The train traveled from Detroit to Chicago, using Norfolk Southern's mainline in Indiana, the time was not set in stone through our area. It is dependent on NS's freight schedule. It travelled along the NS line that runs between Goshen and Elkhart parallel to US-33, and went through downtown Elkhart, moving through downtown Mishawaka and downtown South Bend, and eventually downtown LaPorte and the way to Chicago.
For those of you familiar with Amtrak, this is the same line that the Capital Limited & Lake Shore Limited's route. It moved EAST to WEST, so the farther EAST you are, the earlier it will be in that 12am-3am ETA window. It's a fun train to see at night, and while it's never fun to keep the kids up that late at night, I've heard from many of you that it is now a family tradition. (Full Schedule Below).
MORE H20EL LOCOMOTIVES COMING:
Ballard Power Systems, which has provided the fuel cell engines for CPKC's first hydrogen-powered locomotives, announced it has received an order for another 12 engines totaling 2.4 megawatts of power. The dozen 200-kilowatt engines, to be delivered this year, will support CPKC development of additional hydrogen fuel-cell locomotives for switching and local freight service in Alberta, Ballard said. Part of the funding for the additional locomotives will come from the Emissions Reduction Alberta program, which has also helped fund an earlier expansion of the railroad's hydrogen program from one locomotive to now a trio. Ballard has provided CPKC with 38 fuel-cell engines, providing 7.6 megawatts of power, over the last two years. The first two locomotives (teamed with standard CP Diesel locomotives) are in service.
"Our hydrogen locomotive program demonstrates our commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and we are pleased to continue to work with the team at Ballard to implement effective alternative fuel solutions," Kyle Mulligan, CPKC assistant vice president, operations technology, said in a press release. "We are excited by CPKC's vision and action plan to demonstrate and validate the use of hydrogen-powered locomotives to decarbonize their locomotive fleet," said Seungsoo Jung, Ballard's vice president of rail & emerging markets. "This latest order demonstrates CPKC's continued progress against this vision and plan, while also serving as another proof point for the enabling role of Ballard's fuel cell engines in the electrification of locomotive rail applications in North America."
The Mexican president says he may require freight rail operators to offer passenger service:
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Wednesday that he will issue a decree requiring the nation's freight rail operators to offer passenger service or to allow government-operated passenger trains to run on their routes. Lopez Obrador made the announcement at a November 8th, press conference. A clause in the concession agreements for CPKC de Mexico and Grupo Mexico allow for the railways to be used for passenger service and give the concession holders preference to operate the service. The Associated Press reports he disputed a suggestion that the move amounted to expropriation of private property: "This is not an expropriation, it is in the Constitution and the law," he said. "According to the law, passenger trains have priority."
There is currently no regular passenger service currently operating in Mexico.
López Obrador also said the railway network would have to be electrified to accommodate passenger service. The cost of such an undertaking was not mentioned, nor was the prospect of government subsidies for the passenger service, or the operating issues resulting from introducing passenger service to currently freight-only routes. Earlier this year, the government seized a line operated by Grupo Mexico's Ferrosur, saying it needed the line to complete a route connecting ports on the Pacific Coast and the Gulf of Mexico. The government later extended Ferrosur's concession for eight years in compensation for the move.
CPKC STATEMENT ON MEXICAN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DRAFT DECREE ON PASSENGER SERVICE:
On November 17, 2023, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (TSX: CP) (NYSE: CP) (CPKC) today issued the following statement on the draft decree concerning passenger rail service in Mexico issued by the Mexican Federal Government: CPKC reviewed the draft decree and remains directly engaged with the Mexican Federal Government regarding potential passenger rail service on certain existing freight rail corridors.
CPKC de México has previously reached an agreement with the Mexican Federal Government to perform a study of what is required for the proposed new passenger rail service on the right of way of the corridor between Mexico City and Querétaro. PHOTO: This shows a photoshopped Amtrak Siemens C44 Charger (created by wdtx1402) in fictitious CPKS Livery.
The draft decree, which is expected to become effective by November 20, 2023, also identifies the San Luis Potosí-Monterrey-Laredo corridor for the proposed passenger rail service. As required by our concession, CPKC de México will work closely with the Mexican Federal Government to evaluate passenger service on that corridor. The draft decree emphasizes that the public freight rail service will be respected and as such, we do not expect an adverse impact on our concession. CPKC has extensive experience hosting passenger rail services in multiple locations across its network in the United States and Canada while efficiently managing freight service.
Forward-looking information: This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws in both the U.S. and Canada. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements concerning expectations, beliefs, plans, goals, objectives, assumptions and statements about possible future events, conditions, and results of operations or performance. Forward-looking information may contain statements with words or headings such as "financial expectations", "key assumptions", "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "will", "outlook", "guidance", "should" or similar words suggesting future outcomes. This news release contains forward-looking information relating, but not limited, to statements about the rail concession in Mexico and proposed passenger rail service.
The forward-looking information in this news release is based on current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions, having regard to CPKC's experience and its perception of historical trends, and may include, among others, expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions relating to: changes in business strategies, North American and global economic growth and conditions; commodity demand growth; sustainable industrial and agricultural production; commodity prices and interest rates; performance of our assets and equipment; sufficiency of our budgeted capital expenditures in carrying out our business plan; geopolitical conditions, applicable laws, regulations and government policies; the availability and cost of labour, services and infrastructure; the satisfaction by third parties of their obligations to CPKC; and carbon markets, evolving sustainability strategies, and scientific or technological developments. Although CPKC believes the expectations, estimates, projections, and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking information presented herein are reasonable as of the date hereof, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Current conditions, economic and otherwise, render assumptions, although reasonable when made, subject to greater uncertainty.
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Canadian Pacific Photos
CPKC Train 112 has KCS 4109 as a DPU on November 2, 2023, heading southbound at Bolton, Ontario.
Assigned as another DPU, KCS 4554 is bringing up the rear of CPKC train 112, on October 30, 2023, in Bolton, ON, enroute to Montreal.
On the following day KCS 4781 is on the rear-end of Train 112 passing Humber Station Rd, on the approach to Bolton, ON, on October 31, 2023, at 3:07pm to meet CPKC train 113.
After a trackside meet with CP Train 112 at Bolton, Ontario with CP 8784 (and a KCS unit), is leading opposing CPKC 113 North at mile 24 on the Mactier sub at 3:29 pm on October 31, 2023.
The second 112 was right on the heels of first CPKC 112 on November 2 ,2023 in Bolton Ontario with CP 9766 and UP 6244 at 3:45 pm.
Train 421 was shot by David Franklin s seen here arriving with CP leader SD70ACU 7036 and an older UP SD60 4419 at Palgrave, ON, on November 1, 2023, at 5:06pm just before daylight savings took place.
CP train 288 was shot by Jim Matuska led by CP SD70ACU 7054 Eastbound at the bridge in Dresbach MN.
CP SD70ACU 7054 was shot on June 23, 2020, by Jim Matuska north of La Crescent MN, at the Lock and Dam, and slowly passing a CP Tie gang working on the R-o-W.
"EMD Noses" KCS 1 & CP 1401 Noses was captured by Steven Patriquin the S&G Manager at CPKC.
CP 8739 and UP 6224 are on the head end of train 113 as David Franklin shot them heading northbound near Bolton, Ontario, at the Humber Station Road level crossing, on October 27 at 2:36pm.
A westbound CPKC train was shot by Terry O'Shell climbing the Niagara Escarpment with CP 8016 and KCS 4609 passing Mile 37.9 on the Galt Sub, at through Campbellville, Ontario, on October 9, 2023.
In mid-November, the FRA inspection train is running east across the FGAR this time ever with a CP leader... you can imagine the excitement this event caused.... It was shot by the Occidental Tourist passing the famous signals at West Lee, former SE Lee under CSXT. They had an approach signal to meet the LC-West which was getting close. CP 8917 leads CSXT W00808/Z53508 were shot on the ex-CSXT Tallahassee Subdivision in Lee, Florida. It appears that the original Number Boards were stolen, as those on the ES44AC are actually replacements, but not sure when that occurred. WHB
CPKC train 928 was captured by Steve Koop Angelicola along Lake Champlain, led by NS SD70ACe 1065 (in "Savanna and Atlanta" Heritage livery), in Port Henry, NY.
KCS GP38-2 2034 was nicely shot by Tommy Parker in Gulfport, MS on November 5, 2023.
CP SD40-2F 9014 on CWR-04 was shot Nick Caruso Mactier Rolling down the Mactier Sub at MP 53, on October 7, 2023.
Unserviceable CMQ SD40-2F 9004 was shot by our friend sitting in the dead St-Luc Dead-Line on October 13, 2023.
Local train J20 was captured by Dennis Weber arriving La Crosse, WI with paired Progress Rail-built ECO-units CP 5024 and CP 2226, on October 9, 2023.
Dennis also caught CPKC Train 250 is led by CP 9806 & KCS 4749 Marquette Sub in La Crescent, MN, on October 15, 2023.
The carman in his vehicle observes train movements at the ''top end'' of the yard. G24 (with CP 2209) is shunting cars as ''nose to nose'' G19 from Newport Vermont is passing on the siding. Canadian Pacific Adirondack Subdivision in the yard in Farnham, Quebec, on November 08, 2023.
Surrounded by muted fall foliage, Francois Jolin captured CPKC 121 crossing the Salmon River in Scotstown, Quebec led by CP SD60 6231 (and a KCS GE) on the Canadian Pacific Sherbrooke Subdivision on October 14, 2023.
David Franklin clicked CP train 420 with CP AC4400CW 9767 and CSX ES44AC-H 922 at Woodbridge ON at 4:58 pm on October 13, 2023.
Francois Jolin captured Ethanol train CPKC 528 glides toward the Canada/U.S border led by CP 8170 as it passes by the old depot/Customs House in Lacolle, Quebec.
On October 08, 2023, Train 244 was shot led by CP AC4400CWM 8047 (ex-CP 9542) by Josh Putman, as it rolled through Embry, AL, over the Norfolk Southern Alabama Division East End District.
Retired SOO GP38-2 4416 was on train 250 departing Nahant, IA, on October 25th, (destination unknown). SOO 4416 was shot by Tony Held in Pigs Eye Yard March 26, 2023. (Buddy Burton Photo)
SOOL LINE VIGNETTE: One of a kind SOO SD40B 6450 at St. Paul, MN on May 14, 1993, be Deane Motis. Now retired, It is somewhat rare for one railroad to buy a "Homebuilt Locomotive" from another Railroad, but SOO SD40B 6450 was former BN SD40B 7600, which was Home built by Burlington Northern, after the Cab was smashed on BN 6302 after being involved in a wreck, in early 1982. The unit eventually got scrapped at Silvis Illinois. Soo Line SD40B 6450 had been worn out and her frame was bad. That's why Soo Line SD40B 6450 was side Lined and then scrapped.
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Canadian Pacific Vignettes
After releasing passengers at Vancouver's waterfront station, the CP Rail "Canadian" completes its transcontinental trip by heading into the Dunsmuir Tunnel under the city which takes it to the coach yards south of downtown for servicing and turning, back in June 1976. (This photo was taken by Bill Edgar).
CP Rail Park Avenue Station in Montreal, QC, back in 1973 with platforms, and the same view today (Photo via Google Earth).
CP Rail RS18 8751 is tied down with several other MLW units, at the railway's St Luc Yard Diesel Shop in Montreal, QC, in the summer of 1983. This photo was taken by Brian G. Morris, with permission back in June 1983.
Thomas Bowers shot Soo Line SW1200 (SOO 1211) in Bensenville, IL in 1980. She is former-Milwaukee 706, built at EMD Lagrange on January 1, 1954. She was later rebuilt into a Toronto Agincourt Yard Slug, in St-Lawrance and Hudson paint in 1990, and mated to a GP9u yard Mother, and later scrapped.
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