EMD SW1200RS

Praise for the DAR SW1200RS Fleet

SW1200 Diagram from CPR Publication Classes and Dimensions of Locomotives - 1960

The Dominion Atlantic Railway's seven (note: there were 10) DRS-12b GMD-built locomotives have established a reputation as one of the best maintained groups of 8100's on the CP Rail system. One reason for this is that the DAR is isolated from the rest of Canadian Pacific except via a link with CN at Truro. "We have had these engines since they were built in 1959 and like the family car, the men know and take pride in them," explains DAR's manager E.W. Purssell. Pride on the railway comes naturally since many of the employees are second and third generation railroaders. Regular datal and general inspections are carried out in the company's Kentville shops. When five-year major overhauls are due, the locomotives are sent to the parent company's Angus Shops. Every weekday two or three engines move gypsum unit trains between a mining operation and the port of Hantsport. Thus, these DAR-assigned locomotives have a claim to fame for hauling unit trains longer than any other group of engines in service. CP Rail News ^[1]

Assignments

There were originally 10 SW1200RS units assigned to the DAR.^[2] As the years went by and traffic dwindled, units were assigned elsewhere on the CP system. In 1979, the following eight units were on-line: 8131-4/6//7/9/40.^[3] By the time CP withdrew from Nova Scotia in 1994, only four units remained: 1273, 1274, 1275 and 8138.

References and Footnotes

• SW1200RS Diesel Specs from the Maritime Express June 1971.
• Diesel Specifications for the DRS-12b class gleaned from several CPR sources.

External Links

• CPR Roster at Canadian Public Transit Discussion Board wiki
• EMD 1200 Data Sheet at the Diesel Shop
• EMD SW1200RS at Wikipedia
• EMD 567 Engines a Wikipedia
• CP Locomotive Power Summary 1986
• CP Locomotive Power Summary 1972
• CP Classes and Dimensions of Locomotives