Trenton Division

Piggyback Trains

R.L.Kennedy

MLW F1 4001 & 4401 Spanner April-May 1960

The above double cover photograph was likely taken much earlier than the April-May 1960 issue of Spanner
since long before this (see below) the newest diesels were being assigned to the Pig trains. 928-929 the
"Big Pig" was using four RS-18's to maintain a high speed and overcome the high wind resistance of these trains.

Howard Fogg painting of a similar scene 8742-8743 at Christie Lake 1957
Montreal Locomotive Works Collection

CPR publicity photograph shows piggyback train on scenic Mud Lake bridge,
(running here as an "extra" in daylight for the photographer Nick Morant!)
with the newest diesels, MLW RS-18's 8746 and 8756.

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First trains operated on Wednesday, October 9, 1957
Spanner November 1957

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3072_3025 in the controversial Dual Flag paint scheme/ Mud Lake.

5919_5953 Multimarks are gone. Dorval February 2005

On Sunday, October 16, 1994, CPR eastbound Detroit-Montreal intermodal freight #508 is seen traversing the
north shore of Christie Lake, Ont., near Mile 26 of the Belleville Subdivision. The relatively short 45-platform train
is being easily handled by RS-18u's #1831, #1826 and #1817. All were retired in 1997 and 1998,
and were not among those RS-18u's that were sold to other roads. Bill Sanderson

NOTE: It is decades after new RS-18's first hauled piggyback trains between Montreal and Toronto, yet here they are
again back on the main line hauling intermodal traffic once again and not looking at all like typical smoky Alcos!

8746 8754 with piggyback train in CPR publicity photograph.

8772_8746 with piggyback train same location.

8746 in another CPR publicity photo. Note dispatcher's telephone box.

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Eventually, changing conditions in freight shipping including trucking deregulation saw piggyback service which had spread all across Canada come to an end. The tremendous growth in container operations was a far different service, one based on overseas maritime traffic.

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Read more here: Intermodal Pioneer and Toronto Terminals Division

Intermodal train in 1994

Eventually, changing conditions in freight shipping including trucking deregulation saw piggyback service which had spread all across Canada come to an end. The tremendous growth in container operations was a far different service, one based on overseas maritime traffic.

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Expressway

History

Photographs

Originally named Iron Highway this service beginning in November 1996 returned piggyback operations to the Trenton Division with trains operating between West Toronto and Montreal.

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Back to: CPR Trenton Index