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Inbound view of the new St. Luc Diesel Shop - 1955 Photographer unknown.

In the 1950's the new president-to-be, Norris R. "Buck" Crump, ushered in a new era of diesel power for the Canadian Pacific Railway. And so the St. Luc Diesel Shop began...

In 1953, the first of three major construction phases began to build the St. Luc Diesel Shop. In 1955 the first three run through tracks were finished ready to service the growing fleet of diesel locomotives (now numbered Tracks 10, 11, and 12). These facilities incorporated advanced designs and new technology that included run through Service Bays where locomotives requiring servicing entered from the east end of the Shop and fully serviced locomotives exited to the west.
 
The Shop's design also featured lowered floors, depressed pits below the shop floor (to allow better access to the underside of each locomotive), and elevated platforms to easily access the carbody and engine areas.
 
These elevated platforms were joined at the front of the shop by small (7 foot x 11 foot) air operated piston driven drop tables that could be raised and locked into place. This was to permit the platform-to-platform flow of shop personnel and equipment to cross and work from the platforms, or to be lowered to track level to allow a serviced locomotive to exit the shop. This thru-put process was much speedier than the traditional roundhouse design.

The heating system, critical in our cold winters, used large blowers to force the steam heated air through heating ducts built into the floor of the Diesel Shop. This not only kept the shop warm but also cold damp cement floors were a thing of the past.
 
Ever financially and ecology minded, St. Luc Diesel Shop was a pioneer in the recovery of gray waste water and used engine oil. The spent liquids were pumped to separate treatment areas where the gray water was treated before being put into the sewage system, a safe practice still in place today. The oil was cleaned, put into storage tanks and was originally burned in the large boilers at the Power House. Now, the oil is sold to a specialized recycling company.
 
Since its beginnings, the St. Luc Diesel Shop has played an important role in the development of the railway's diesel program.
 
In 1956, two more identical run-through service bays were added as part of the second phase of construction. (now numbered Tracks 8 and 9).

Today, most shop personnel find it hard to believe that their diesel shop was actually constructed in three phases. The last phase of construction was the addition of a drop-table to change out of the new electric traction motors. Also, a place was needed to change the wheel sets of these motors.
 
So in 1957, the High Bay Heavy Service Area was built which included a 100 ton Whiting drop table and a 40/10 ton double-hook Hepburn overhead crane. This crane has one trolley with independently operated hooks. This feature allows whole locomotive trucks to be turned over to facilitate rebuilding the motor/truck unit (these tracks are now numbered Tracks 13 to 17).
 
St. Luc Diesel Shop employees have witnessed many changes in the past half century and proudly acknowledge it as the major running repair shop in the eastern region of the Canadian Pacific Railway.
 
In 1962 a garage was built for the Hi-Rail Mobile Crane and the road/rail business car, M260. In 1981 a rolling sand gantry was installed at the "Coal Chute".
 
In 1986, the steam-era coal chute was demolished. However, traditions die hard and the inbound track area, where the facility was once located, is still referred to as "The Coal Chute".

In 1991, a covered locomotive washing system was installed beside the Shop on Track 7. This outdoor system which operates during the warmer months only has been affectionately dubbed "The Car Wash".
 
Also in 1991, the water tower beside the shop on track 18 was demolished. A little known fact is that the water tower, which was designed to supply water to the shop in the event that the City of St. Luc was unable to, was never used.
 
In 1992, a 20/8.5 ton double hook DEMAG (#81099) crane, transferred from Angus Shops when that facility was closed, was installed in the high bay service area. That same year, a part of the steam shop was converted into an engine head rebuild area for the aging ALCO fleet (American Locomotive Company). St. Luc employees can be proud of its record for servicing the much maligned ALCOs.

On 23 Dec 1993, emotions were mixed when in a farewell ceremony, CPR president, Rob Ritchie, shut down CP 4706, the last active 6-axle ALCO locomotive.
 
In August 2000, in an effort to become more efficient, Canadian Pacific contracted out the maintenance of the four-axle locomotive fleet to the OmniTrax Company. Efficiencies were expected to come from an innovative servicing program whereby the locomotive maintenance personnel traveled to the locomotives and serviced them on-site, rather than have the locomotives travel to the shop. After three years the CPR recognized its' own well-trained employees could perform the same tasks and be yet more efficient and cost effective.
 
So in 2003, Mobile Locomotive Maintenance (MLM), was launched in Toronto. Then in 2005, the program was rolled out to each of the local service areas and Michel Daoust and his mobile men began to call St. Luc home.

The Mobile Locomotive Maintenance now has two trucks:  a mobile service vehicle (MSV) and a mobile repair vehicle (MRV). Two crews of two diesel shop employees keep these trucks on the road 16 hours a day doing all Servicing (with the exception of annual inspections) and repairs. Large tanks in the MSV truck keep oil and water to top up the Locomotives. A lifting boom, welding machine, and air compressor on the MRV truck aid in trackside repairs. These tough all-weather crews are responsible for a large territory which includes Hochelaga, Lachine, Delson, Vaudreuil, Rigaud, Ste. Therese, and more recently, St. Antoine.
 
In 2001, The roundhouse was partially demolished. Only 9 stalls remain, numbers 29 to 37. To some, this demolition seemed to signal the end for the St. Luc Diesel Shop, however, nothing could be further from the truth!
 
After a couple of years of renting out space to Progress Rail, General Electric Locomotive Service Division came calling.
 
In 2003, the GE service contract allowed eighty-three GE AC4400 locomotives to call St. Luc their home. This move breathed new life into what was beginning to appear as a deserted diesel shop. Also in 2003, the now "old" wheel truing machine was given a face lift. New electronics and displays were installed allowing the operator a more precise "cut" of the wheel.

St. Luc Diesel Shop was the third diesel shop built by the CPR, after shops built in Nelson, British Columbia, and Calgary, Alberta. Although the St. Luc Diesel Shop was built in three stages, it is considered to be one shop encompassing 20,000 square feet. The Chief Engineer on the St. Luc project was R.A. Emerson who followed plans made by the Chief Architect Laurence Laffoley. All materials used in the construction were top-grade and were designed for the anticipated heavy work loads. The rails were brand new 130 lb. steel and the supports were made to accommodate future heavier locomotives. The incoming tracks and outbound tracks were laid out so the hostlers, using hand lanterns at that time, could easily move the locomotives into the different servicing areas. The run through locomotives go to the south side of the shop to be inspected, serviced, washed and marshaled into new consists.
 
When first built, the St. Luc Diesel Shop was able to service 100 locomotives and make consists for 52 trains in any given 24 hour period. Nowadays, with the larger horsepower locomotives capable of hauling longer trains, employees through-put 55 locomotives to make approximately 30 trains. Also, the stronger AC locomotives are more easily maintained and therefore less staff is required.
 
The torch is being passed on to the next generation of railway workers as many employees are retiring and many new faces and even new apprentices are seen in the shop. We hope they will take pride in this shop and appreciate the history of toil and changes that have preceded them. To the "old-timers", this shop has grown and given many a good living. Even though there was a threat of closure, the shop is now rising again to give the next generation a future to build on.
 
Today, 50,000 gallons of diesel fuel and 200 gallons of lube oil are used per day to top up the locomotives that pass through the shop. Many items, such as drinking water, first aid kits, flare kits, 2 fire extinguishers, that each locomotive must carry, are also verified and replaced as necessary.
 
Every 90 days, locomotive inspections include changing the fuel, oil, and air filters. The brake shoes are checked every shopping, whether it is a "Pit Stop", a regular 90 day, or a 180 day Inspection. During the annual inspection, the entire locomotive is closely examined on all its components for wear.
 

An array of diesel power in front of the St. Luc Shop - 1963 Photographer unknown.
 
 
Over the years there have been a vast assortment of diesel locomotives from the earliest locomotives built in 1943 to the present day. This has included ALCO switchers, 4 and 6 axle MLW's, GM's, and now GE locomotives. There have been a few special locomotives in the mix such as 8921, 4711, and 4744. The shop personnel have adapted and learned how to service the many different types of leased locomotives which have been maintained at the diesel shop. Some of these different types include:  Boston & Maine RS-3's, Delaware & Hudson S-2's, Bessemer & Lake Erie F7's, Bangor & Aroostock GP7's, Baltimore & Ohio GP40's and Quebec North Shore & Labrador SD40's.
 

AMT 1325 and its train of double deck cars are serviced on Track 2 - 2007 Photographer unknown.
 
 
At present, the St. Luc Diesel Shop maintains 209 locomotives for Canadian Pacific Railway. Also maintained are 16 locomotives and 104 cars that are used in Montreal's Agence Metropoitaine de Transport (AMT) commuter service.

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