Checking Out the particular Current CPKC Locomotive Roster
If you're spending your Saturday mid-day trackside having a camera, you've probably noticed that the cpkc locomotive roster is looking a great deal different these days. It's been a while because the combination between Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern officially entered the finish line, and the ensuing fleet is a fascinating mix of old-school grit and contemporary tech. We're viewing a massive change in how these types of engines are managed, painted, and implemented across a network that now stretches from the arctic plains of Canada all the way up down in order to the tropical heat of Mexico.
It's not merely regarding sticking two trademarks together. Owning a roster this size requires a ton of logistical gymnastics. You've got different upkeep standards, different radio stations systems, and, associated with course, the head ache of duplicate street numbers. But for all those of us viewing from your fence series, it's just the really cool time to see "Belles" rubbing shoulders with "Beavers" in the exact same consist.
The Backbone of the particular Fleet: GE Giants
In case you look at the cpkc locomotive roster today, General Electric powered (GE) units are usually pretty much running the show. The AC4400CW is essentially the workhorse that keeps the particular lights on. Canadian Pacific was usually an enormous fan of these units, plus they have hundreds of them. They aren't the most recent items on the track, but they're extremely reliable. You'll see them in the particular 8500 and 9500 series mostly, frequently looking a little bit weathered but nevertheless tugging massive grain teaches through the Rockies without breaking a sweat.
After that you've got the newer ES44ACs—the GEVOs. These are those that really sound like they mean company whenever they notch up. CPKC has been leaning heavily on these for his or her high-priority intermodal runs. What's interesting is viewing the KCS-origin ES44ACs, which often sport that beautiful "Southern Belle" livery using the red, yellow, and black. They stick out like a sore thumb against the solid red CP units, but in the best way possible.
The business is also moving forward with modernizing these GEs. Instead of just buying brand-new products every time, they're doing these substantial overhauls. You'll discover "WM" (Wabtec Modernized) units popping up more often. They consider an older engine, strip it down, and give it the brains associated with a modern locomotive. It's better intended for the environment, better for the bottom part line, and truthfully, they run like a dream.
The EMD Side of the House
While GE might possess the numbers, the Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) fans still have plenty to cheer about when looking in the cpkc locomotive roster . The SD70ACe may be the big player right here. KCS brought a lot of these to the relationship, and they are absolute critters. They have a really distinct, aggressive appearance compared to the particular GEs. You'll usually find these leading heavy manifest teaches or working the particular steep grades in the Ozarks and down into Mexico.
One of the coolest parts of the EMD roster, though, could be the SD70ACU program. CP took a number of old, tired SD90MACs—which were notoriously unreliable—and sent all of them in for a total rebuild. They returned as SD70ACUs with new cabs, brand-new electronics, and the new lease on life. These are the units that will often carry the particular special heritage color schemes. If you're lucky, you might catch one within the old Tuscan red and yellow metal or the traditional "block" lettering. It's a pleasant nod to the good the railroad while keeping the roster modern.
Coping with the particular Numbering Nightmare
You can't simply merge two railroads and call it up a day when it comes to the particular numbers on the particular side from the cabs. One of the particular first things the power desk had to deal with was the idea that each CP and KCS had locomotives along with the same quantities. You can't possess two "Unit 4502" talking to the same dispatcher; it's a recipe regarding total chaos.
To fix this particular, the cpkc locomotive roster offers undergone some very significant renumbering. Many of the KCS power is being shifted into new slots to prevent overlaps. Usually, they will attempt to keep issues organized by model type, but it's a moving target. If you see a locomotive with a newly painted number that looks just a little "off" compared to the rest of the paint, there's an excellent chance it's an ex KCS device that just got its new identification.
The New Look: Livery plus Branding
Everyone was wondering what the "official" look of CPKC would become. For a while, we just saw the older logos side-by-side. But now, the fresh livery is starting to turns out. It's a clean, daring look that keeps the iconic CP red but includes the new CPKC branding. It's basic, but it appears sharp, especially when the paint is usually fresh and hasn't been baked simply by the Texas sunlight or blasted simply by Canadian snow however.
However, don't expect the older paint schemes in order to vanish overnight. Piece of art a locomotive is usually expensive and requires time. We're heading to see "patch" jobs for years—where they just punch the new revealing marks on the side of an outdated KCS gray unit or a CP red unit. With regard to railfans, this is actually great because it creates a "rainbow" effect in the consists. You might see a brand-new CPKC-painted unit leading a KCS Belle, a CLUBPENGUIN "Beaver, " plus maybe even a leased unit from CITX or CEFX.
Small But Great: Switchers and Locals
As the huge six-axle units obtain all the beauty, the cpkc locomotive roster furthermore includes a fast of smaller four-axle units for backyard work and local deliveries. You'll still see GP38-2s and GP40-2s kicking cars around in areas like Kansas Town, St. Paul, and Calgary. These items are the best survivors. Some associated with them are usually in support since the 1971s.
CP has been particularly good at keeping their medium-horsepower fleet alive by means of rebuild programs. They've got these "ECO" units that are much quieter plus cleaner than the old smokers these people replaced. They may not be the most exciting thing to see on the main line, but the railroad couldn't perform without them. They're the ones doing the "last mile" work, dropping off vehicles at grain elevators and manufacturing plant life.
Looking Toward the Future: Hydrogen and Tech
One of the most interesting issues about the cpkc locomotive roster right now isn't a traditional diesel-powered whatsoever. CPKC is actually a chief in hydrogen gas cell technology. They've developed a hydrogen-powered line-haul locomotive, which is a massive deal for that industry. It's constructed on the framework of an older unit but swap the diesel engine intended for fuel cells plus batteries.
They've been testing these in real-world problems, and it's not really just a PAGE RANK stunt. They're looking for ways to cut emissions, especially as regulations obtain tighter. Seeing a "Hydrogen" locomotive in the center of a standard shipping consist is a weird sight, yet it's a glance of in which the roster might be headed in twenty or thirty years.
The Mexico Connection
We can't talk about the particular roster without bringing up the KCSM (Kansas City Southern de México) units. These are now fully integrated into the particular CPKC system. A lot of these types of are SD70ACe-T4s—Tier four units that are usually designed to meet the strictest emissions standards. They invest a lot of time running the particular "Laredo Gateway, " which is one of the busiest rail crossings in the entire world.
The diversity of the fleet down there will be pretty similar to the PEOPLE and Canada, yet the environment is much harsher. The high temperature and dust take a toll upon the machinery. You'll often see these types of units looking a bit more "worn in" compared to their northern cousins. But since the particular merger, these motors are wandering very much further north. It's not unusual now in order to see an unit that spent final week in San Luis Potosà moving through the suburbs of Chicago this particular week.
Final Thoughts for the Trackside Observer
Keeping track of the cpkc locomotive roster is like trying in order to solve a puzzle that's constantly altering. Between the renumberings, the new paint, the rebuilds, and the cross-border wanderings, there's always some thing new to discover. Whether you're a fan of the particular classic EMD rumble or the contemporary GE chug, the particular current fleet provides a bit associated with everything.
Following time you're out there and a person view a train approaching, take a close look at the prospect unit. Is it a freshly decorated CPKC original? A good old KCS veteran still holding onto the Belle colors? Or maybe one associated with those rebuilt "echo" units? Whatever it is, it's part of a massive, interconnected system that's currently rewriting the guide on North North american railroading. It's the pretty cool time for you to be watching the particular tracks.