The Light Sucked....The Power Didn't
I sometimes wonder why I even scan marginal stuff but it just happens and then I'm torn whether to post of just stick it on a memory stick never to be seen again. Sorry about the brutal lighting on this one but the power was pretty cool by the date of the shot. Train 705 is at Moonlight with 1848, 1847, 4743 and EMD 2000 on May 14, 1994. The CP BIGs had already been retired once in December 93 but a power shortage caused some of the still serviceable ones to be returned to service in late winter/early spring 1994. The reprieve didn't last long and if a serious failure occurred the unit was promptly re-retired. Some of these units literally returned to service and suffered a major problem and were parked again for good in just a few days. When the BIGs returned to service it was instructed they were not to be used as leaders, that wasn't really a problem in virtually all of them as the RSC equipment and radios plus a few other cab amenities had been ripped out upon there retirement in late 93. Oddly enough the 4743 seen in this set was fully intact in the cab and capable of leading. It may well have been the only BIG running on CP in 1994 that was. At the time I knew a couple people in the CP power bureau and relayed the information 4743 was still a qualified leader. It was one of those things I think they'd rather have not known as I'm not sure anyone wanted to stick a big in the lead and have pictures pop up of one of the units Rob Ritchie had personally retired the previous December back in service leading a train on his railroad. Anyway 4743 turned into quite the survivor and still works on DL to this day. I can't believe I had that much to say about a crappy shot lol.
The Light Sucked....The Power Didn't
I sometimes wonder why I even scan marginal stuff but it just happens and then I'm torn whether to post of just stick it on a memory stick never to be seen again. Sorry about the brutal lighting on this one but the power was pretty cool by the date of the shot. Train 705 is at Moonlight with 1848, 1847, 4743 and EMD 2000 on May 14, 1994. The CP BIGs had already been retired once in December 93 but a power shortage caused some of the still serviceable ones to be returned to service in late winter/early spring 1994. The reprieve didn't last long and if a serious failure occurred the unit was promptly re-retired. Some of these units literally returned to service and suffered a major problem and were parked again for good in just a few days. When the BIGs returned to service it was instructed they were not to be used as leaders, that wasn't really a problem in virtually all of them as the RSC equipment and radios plus a few other cab amenities had been ripped out upon there retirement in late 93. Oddly enough the 4743 seen in this set was fully intact in the cab and capable of leading. It may well have been the only BIG running on CP in 1994 that was. At the time I knew a couple people in the CP power bureau and relayed the information 4743 was still a qualified leader. It was one of those things I think they'd rather have not known as I'm not sure anyone wanted to stick a big in the lead and have pictures pop up of one of the units Rob Ritchie had personally retired the previous December back in service leading a train on his railroad. Anyway 4743 turned into quite the survivor and still works on DL to this day. I can't believe I had that much to say about a crappy shot lol.