Canadian Pacific places five locomotives with military paint schemes in service

Written by David C. Lester, Editor-in-Chief
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CP MIlitary Locomotives
Canadian Pacific

Canadian Pacific (CP) unveiled five specially painted locomotives on Remembrance Day in Canada and Veterans Day in the U.S. honouring the culture and history of the armed forces. The five Electro-Motive Diesel SD70ACUs will take the message of military pride across the CP system.

“As a leading employer of veterans, CP is proud to commemorate military machines and the brave men and women who’ve operated them in conflicts around the world,” said CP President, CEO and veteran Keith Creel. “As these locomotives pass through communities across the CP system, I hope those who see them will reflect on the sacrifices made by so many of their countrymen to protect and defend their freedom.”

CP personnel carefully studied the paint colours and patterns that branches of the Canadian and U.S. militaries applied to tanks, planes and warships. Based on their research, they devised five liveries for these locomotives:

CP 7020 wears North Atlantic Treaty Organization green, which the Canadian and U.S. armies apply to fighting vehicles and equipment serving in temperate climates.
CP 7021 wears the sand colour that the Canadian and U.S. armies apply to fighting vehicles and equipment serving in arid climates.
CP 7022 wears the grey, red and black colour pattern of modern Canadian and American warships.
CP 7023 wears a two-tone gray paint scheme designed after the livery applied to Canadian and American fighter jets.
CP 6644 wears the camouflage colours applied to Royal Canadian Air Force “Spitfire” fighter planes flown at the Allied invasion of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944.
Four of the five locomotives bear a Canadian flag on one side and American on the other. CP operates in both countries and employs veterans of both countries’ military services.

“We are proud to support our veterans and the invaluable skill and experience that they have gained serving their country,” said CP Senior Vice-President Engineering, Mechanical and Procurement Scott MacDonald, a veteran. “These locomotives are a symbol of our support. They will operate in regular service and further support our commitment as a proud employer of veterans in Canada and the United States.”

From a Canadian Pacific press release.  cpr.ca.

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Editor’s note: For more coverage of the relationship between veterans and the North American railroad industry, see “Honoring Their Service, and Much More” in the November digital and print editions of our sister magazine, Railway Age, pp. 24-27. DCL

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