This A-B set of General Motors Diesel Division "F" units hauled the crack CPR
passenger trains of the 1950's and `60's. A few remain in service on various railways up
to the present day. The "A" unit No. 4069, a class DPA-15f developing 1500 HP was
built in London, Ontario and was delivered to the CPR on August 29,1952. The West
Coast Railway Association has purchased the locomotive to head up its representative
CPR passenger consist.
No. 4459, the "B" unit is a DFB-15e and develops 1500 HP. This unit was delivered to
the CPR on January 19,1953. When it was taken out of service it was acquired by the
Alberta Railway Museum and has been on display in High River, Alberta. It was
purchased by the WCRA in 1994. A dual service unit, No. 4459 was purchased with a
steam generator so it could be used in passenger as well as freight service.
No 4069 was renumbered to 1425 by the CPR to haul the new Canadian in 1955. The
locomotive helped usher in a new era of train travel in Canada. Each train consisted of
14 new stainless steel cars including 2 Dome cars. The Canadian ran from Montreal to
Vancouver in 71 hours and 10 minutes. This cut 16 hours from the schedule of the steam
powered Dominion. It was achieved by the higher speeds of the diesels, less locomotive
servicing enroute and the elimination of the need for "helper" engines in the Rockies.
From this proud beginning No. 4069 was relegated to hauling Montreal commuter trains
in the mid 1960's until it was sold to VIA in 1978.
