3 February 2011

Canadian Pacific Awards Baldwin
Number 8000 to WCRA

Squamish British Columbia - Canadian Pacific Railway has awarded its heritage Baldwin locomotive number 8000 to the West Coast Railway Association where it will become part of the WCRA collection for long term preservation and interpretation.
 
The locomotive was one of several pieces of the Canadian Pacific heritage collection put up for disposition by the railway, which was seeking good homes for the collection's long term care.
 
WCRA has long had this locomotive on its collection plan list, and this was the opportunity.
 
Led by Ron Anstey and aided by Grant Ferguson and Don Evans, Ron crafted a well put together proposal and case as to why the locomotive should come to WCRA and what our plans would be for its future care.
 
The document outlined the case for the locomotive's preservation to be in Western Canada (due its western heritage with CPR) and the plan to preserve it as part of the WCRA's "Roundhouse Collection" destined for display in the new Roundhouse & Conference Centre building at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park.
 
Canadian Pacific number 8000 is of extreme historical significance, and was part of a revolutionizing of motive power practices on the Canadian Pacific, significant in the decision for the railway to switch from steam power to diesel power.
 
It was the "class engine" of an order for 13 Baldwin DRS4-4-1000 locomotives, built by the builder in Eddystone, Pennsylvania, in December 1948.
 
In an era where steam power still ruled supreme on the railways, CPR had a bold idea.
 
It would assign the locomotives to the isolated Esquimalt & Nanaimo Division, convert the Island line completely to diesel, and see how this performed.
 
Number 8000 and her sisters arrived and went to work and did the job.
 
Soon, the ability of the diesels to work long and flexible shifts, greatly reduce operating and maintenance costs, and handle whatever was thrown their way were evident.
 
In just 12 years, CPR would move on to dieselize the entire remainder of its locomotive fleet.
 
Despite the success of the Baldwins, however, the majority of the remainder of its diesels came from other builders, and the 13 Model DRS4-4-1000 8000 series and the few 7000 series Baldwin switchers would remain on the west coast for the balance of their careers.
 
After retirement from active service by CPR in 1975, the fleet was scrapped except for number 8000, which was retained by CPR for historical purposes.
 
In the early 1980's the unit was repainted into its first paint scheme by CP, had its traction motors removed, and was fitted with roller bearings.
 
However, things waned, the unit ended up outdoors and deteriorated.
 
Thankfully, CP removed many of the precious detail items and stored them in their Montreal archives to ensure preservation.
 
In late February, a letter was received from CPR Vice President, Paul Clark, advising us of the award of the locomotive and terms for its donation.
 
WCRA accepted and things are now about to get in motion.
 
The archival parts and items will be shipped from Montreal to Squamish, while the railway assesses the move of the locomotive west.
 
At this point expectations are that it will come by rail, but we are awaiting final word on that.
 
One of Western Canadian railroading's most historic locomotives will now call the West Coast Railway Heritage Park its new home.
 
WCRA will make a final decision on the cosmetic restoration plan for display and interpretation of the role that this locomotive had in changing Canadian railway motive power forever.
 
Our sincere thanks to Canadian Pacific for their confidence in us to care for this artefact.