Cochrane Alberta: Canadian Pacific Railway

We’ve got a railway themed T&N for you today and here we’re looking down at the tracks in Cochrane Alberta at the Canadian Pacific’s transcontinental mainline. The first image dates from 1984 and shows an eastbound freight at the edge of town, and in 2014 we visited the same location to try and shoot something similar. Hopefully a train will show.

Let’s check out the first picture and see what’s visible that could help us compose our shot. There’s not much to work with here – the tracks look like any other and the low rolling hills in back are fairly featureless. Should we even bother? Wait, what about the line poles? They look to be in the same position after thirty years and maybe they’re just what we need to make it work. This post is an old one rewritten and tidied up, but still using old photos. These have their shortcomings.

Cochrane Alberta: Canadian Pacific Railway – really, not much has changed. Train spotting with Chris Doering & Connie Biggart (BIGDoer/Synd)

Now the waiting begins and so we sat there and sat there. The hours rushed past and just as we were about to call it a day, a freight appeared. We really hoped it’d be heading in the same direction as in the original, but at this point were happy to settle for anything. An observation: trains are always scarce when you’re waiting on one.

Four General Motors SD40 series locomotives are seen leading the freight in the original photo. On point it’s #5993, from the early 1980s while the others, #5710 and #5715, date from the mid-1970s. The road number on the last engine can’t be seen and makes no mention in notes that accompanied the photo.

In the mid-1980s these were the most commonly seen group of locomotives across the CPR system and the railway clearly enamoured with the model. Starting in the latter half of the 1960s and ending twenty years later, the CPR purchased hundreds and hundreds across three sub-models – SD40, SD40-2 and SD40-2F. The SD40-2 became the most numerous on the railway and at least three of the locomotives seen in the old photo were this model. The last can’t be IDed but by the numbers likely a -2 model.

These were built at the now closed General Motors Diesel Division (GMDD) plant in London Ontario. Established in 1950, the factory shut down in 2012 and production shifted to the US. While originally used to fulfill Canadian orders, the factory also did a brisk export business and became the last locomotive factory in Canada. In the past there were as many as three in business at any one time and now there’s none.

If you’re a regular reader you may have heard us mention this plant when talking about GM transit buses, which for a time were also produced there. The railway business is cyclical and when locomotive orders were slow, this second product helped keep them busy. The factory also produced mining dump trucks for a time and military vehicles.

The CPR’s SD40 series are now almost non-existent on the CPR roster, although we’re told a few stragglers are still at work here and there, with most others scrapped or languishing away in the deadline. That lead unit was still working for the railway when we captured our image in 2014 but soon after retired. The second and third locomotives were last seen working lease assignments in the US, but appear to have long since been scrapped. Yes, you can rent a locomotive, and in fact it’s quite common.

Note how layout of the safety stripes differ from engine to engine in the old photo.

The intermodal train in the original carries a mix of containers and trailers. Trains of this sort, then and today, are usually the highest priority and typically operate under an expedited schedule. The CPR no longer handles trailers (TOFC – trailers on flat cars) and now containers are typically stacked two high in well cars.

The train in our photo is but a lowly grain hauler and lead by two General Electric model AC4400CW locomotives. Plus there’s a third mid-train. Today, these are much like the SD40 of old, are the one of the most common engines in the CPR fleet. Or rather they were in 2014, but newer models are taking over. The lead unit, in blue, belongs to a leasing firm and not owned by the railway.

A few old “government” hoppers (with either Canada or wheat logos) from the ’70s and ’80s are seen in the consist (new photo). These were built then under a subsidy in response to grain car shortages and many (at the time of the then photo) were on their last legs. Still, even in 2022 some remain in service and they lasted longer than anyone ever imagined.

We’re along the CPR’s Laggan Subdivision and this busy mainline sees a gazillion trains per day. That’s unless you’re waiting on one, in which case you’ll see none and waste your time. The line dates back to the 1880s and the backbone of the CPR system. To the west of Cochrane it’s the majestic Rockies and to the east, the Great Plains. This is cowboy country!

There’s houses to the left of the tracks, just off screen in our photo, but when the original was snapped, that location was an empty field. Cochrane has grown many fold over the last few decades and now a sprawling bedroom community while losing much of its small town charm. Calgary’s just to the east. The railway now cuts the town in half and passing trains cause many traffic snarls.

The original image come thanks to Richard Hart and used with permission. If you have an old image you’d like us to apply the T&N treatment to, by all means contact us.

Know more: (new windows): SD40 Series Locomotive and Cochrane Alberta.

Stay tuned for more fun and interesting content posted regularly. It’s always a good time and something to look forward to.

They’re saying…

”Love the variety and always look forward to seeing the places they visit.” Brian Brandon – River City Classics and Eamon’s Garage.

More fun stuff…
Currie Barracks Parade Square – Found the crack!
Then & Now: Foremost Alberta – Ninety years apart.
Rosebery BC Then & Now – The trains are no more.

Something to say and no one to say it to? Go here: contact us!

Date of Adventure: 1984 and April 2014.
Location: Cochrane, AB.
Article references and thanks: Richard Hart for the original photo and Canadian Trackside Guides.

Down by the tracks in Cochrane Alberta.

Off in the west – Devil’s Head on left.

A broader view.