In 1947 the CPR Research Department undertook several studies to implement the use of diesel units on various territories across the country. One of these studies was focused on the Kootenay and Kettle Valley Lines in Southern British Columbia. The study recommended the purchase of 73 units to replace the 92 steam locomotives assigned to the territory. This number of units would cover all freight assignments, work trains and through passenger services between Vancouver and Medicine Hat.
Among the units purchased were a group of 14 F7B units, #4459 to #4462. These were to be dual-purpose freight and passenger units and were therefore ordered with a through steam line but no steam generator unit. This followed CPR policy of providing units that could be used in either service should the traffic require extra power at any given time.
General Motors Diesel of Canada built #4459 in January of 1953 as serial #A-495 in order C-159. The unit was added to the CPR roster on January 19,1953 and was assigned to class DFB-15e.
With the introduction of "the Canadian" on April 24,1955, #4459 was to be found in the motive power consist of the new streamliner as well as in freight service on the line from Calgary to Vancouver. #4459 was assigned to the Calgary/Revelstoke Division in 1952/1953 when the CPR decided to transfer all CLC/FM power to Nelson for operation and maintenance
#4459 served in relative anonymity until 1978 when it was chosen, along with sister F7B # 4438, to serve as booster power for a cross Canada tourism promotion train powered be ex- Canadian Pacific Royal Hudson #2860. This train operated across the country and returned through the northern US and was sponsored by the Province of British Columbia. #4459 was painted overall in CPR Tuscan red and carried a small CP Rail logo and her unit number in gold along the side sill.
Following her brief stint in the limelight, #4459 returned to the regular fleet and was re-painted into the new CP Rail action red paint scheme. Upon retirement in 1988, #4459 was acquired by the Alberta Pioneer Railway Assn. of Edmonton for potential used as a booster unit for steam excursions behind their ex-CNR ten wheeler #1392. These never came to fruition and the unit was sent to High River Alberta for display at the Museum of the Highwood in a freight train exhibit. In 1994, the unit was sold to the WCRA and in 1996 it was moved to the West Coast Railway Heritage Park in Squamish.
