Canadian Railroads > Big Power on the CBNS, 15 Years Ago

For a number of years in the 2000s, the Cape Breton & Central Nova Scotia Rwy. rostered the only SD45-2s in Canada, complete with their original 20-cylinder prime movers.  They weren't exactly the MLW Centuries that were the fan favourites in the 1990s, but were a worthy substitute just the same, especially if you could catch a matched trio hauling a train (one, HATX 912 wore faded Family Lines grey to the end).  September 30, 1997 was one of those days, with the Helm leasers leading train 305 past Monastery, in Nova Scotia's Antigonish Co.  The train was heavy with paper products from Port Hawkesbury.  The covered hoppers were likely empty plastic pellet and cement cars returning from the Sydney area on Cape Breton Island.  The Sydney tar ponds remediation was ongoing at the time, and it was consuming large quantities of cement.

The 45s were replaced a few years later with leased SD40-2s, which are still powering the road freights to this day, although the locomotives have now been purchased by new owner G&W.

GTD

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Good one.
JB

Great scene!
Bob

very cool consist!

Sweet photo, and cooperative sun under a threatening sky.
Fred

Nice pic!!

A HATX hat trick!