EVRAZ 11 (CP SW900)

CP 6716 was your average SW900 (one of 11 on the CP), until he was rebuilt into a SW900m, CP 6195 Calgary remote control switcher in 1991 (see: http://www.mountainrailway.com/Roster%20Archive/CP%206100/CP%206195.htm). This is where the engine received the odd yellow paint job.

In 2002 he was retired, sold to Railside Locomotive Services in Winnipeg a year later. According to the Canadian Trackside Guide, he worked at the former Dominion Bridge complex, yet the company address traces back to Oakbank, MB perhaps the unit was an elevator switcher there? Either way he was sold to IPSCO in 2006, with the color having turned orange by this point. Being a B unit, the engine lacked a proper cab, hence was wearing lots of green parts at the time. Looks like they came off a HBR 2512 SW8 retired in 2002.

As you can see, last year the unit still looked stock CP, with the CP Rail decal near the cab steps patched out and other minor differences, beacons were moved to the side of the roof vs. the center for instance.

Thats all behind him now courtesy of new paint! Can you recognize him? Wearing IPSCO colours complete with blue beacons.

Fellow SW900, former CP 6714, has been working for IPSCO as #6 for two decades now and looks very similar almost made it into the shot actually. CP retired the series by 1995, although one unit is still technically on roster, leased out to ALSTOM.

Note the coupler on the left, the poor hopper is on its side! These derelict CN cabooses were resting nearby, perhas even 10 feet to the right: http://tinyurl.com/6c6c7t