by Keith MacCauley
GMD’s diminutive SW1200RS end cab road unit has long been my favourite locomotive. Growing up in Hannon (a suburb of Hamilton above the escarpment) along the former Hamilton and North Western right of way, they were a frequent sighting during the lengthy period of daily service along the line. Seemingly, CN checked all the boxes on the specification accessories list; Flexicoil trucks, front number boards, rear number boards and larger fuel tanks. Not entirely satisfied, additional after market parts were added; full length handrails, winterization hatches, and gnarly looking spark arresters. CN’s SW1200RS’s proved to be incredibly long living; of the one hundred and ninety-two built for the railway at least one is still on the roster; CN 7304, built 8/1960 as CN 1390, still serves the Parkdale steel transfer facility in Hamilton. In addition, numerous retired/sold off sisters continue to toil away for subsequent owners.
SW1200RS CN 1265 was delivered to Canadian National from GMD London in 1957 and serve her master for some thirty-four years, being retired in 1991.
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