In 1953 the CPR was well underway on Phase III of the dieselization of the railway. Phase II of the plan had seen dieselization by territory across the country. Steam power was being concentrated in Manitoba and Quebec as more and more diesel units arrived on the property from both General Motors and Montreal Locomotive Works. As part of the former Phase II plan, the CPR ordered 10 additional units for use on fast freight service between Toronto and Windsor Ontario. Of the ten units five were model FPA-2s (4094 to 4098) from Montreal Locomotive Works and five were model FP7As (4099-4103) from General Motors.
In 1955 with the inauguration of the new stainless steel "Canadian" transcontinental passenger train management decided that all power for these trainsets would be General Motors units. Thus #4099-#4103 were sent to the shops to be re-geared for 89mph service and received numbers 1400 to 1404. They were placed in the passenger power pool where they served until the advent of VIA Rail Canada.
On September 28th 1978, VIA Rail Canada purchased 28 units from Canadian Pacific. Among them was #1404. The units served in CP Action Red paint until VIA decided to integrate the fleet into the existing former Canadian National fleet inherited intact at the time of the creation of VIA Rail. In order to achieve the desired integration of the former CPR units; VIA began a re-build and overhaul program. The former CPR units received nose mounted MU connections, up-graded prime movers from 567B to 567BC standards, and other appliances and systems were installed to make the units compatible with the former Canadian National units. #1404 received its overhaul at the CNR Point St. Charles Shops and emerged November 7,1980 as VIA Rail #6553, class GPA-17f in the blue and yellow paint scheme. The unit served with VIA until 1995.
In 1995, WCL Railcars, a subsidiary of Wisconsin Central bought 7 'A' units and 4 'B' units From VIA for service on the Agawa Canyon passenger trains on the Algoma Central Railway. Wisconsin Central had recently purchased the ACR. VIA #6553 (ex-CPR #1404) became ACR #1756 and received the distinctive ACR red and gray paint scheme.
When Canadian National acquired Wisconsin Central and with it, the Algoma Central, the 'F' unit fleet was retired in late 2001 and early 2002. The units were sent to Chicago to be stored serviceable. #1756 was officially retired from the CN roster on June 10, 2002.
Seeking another 'A' unit to match up with our ex -CPR #4069 and 'B' unit #4459, the WCRA approached CN regarding a donation of the former CPR unit, now ACR #1756.
The locomotive was formally presented to the West Coast Railway Assn. at a ceremony at Pacific Central Station where the locomotive was coupled with CN's Pacific Spirit business car. ACR #1756 arrived at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park on August 20, 2002.
The unit was renumbered back to 1404 in 2004 and served on the North Coast Explorer out of Prince Rupert B.C. for its inaugural season. #1404 is at the Heritage Park (2005) awaiting attention to her electrical systems before returning to active service.
