Those darn GMD1’s

            I have at least 9 sets of Proto-files in some stage or the other of being ready for posting.  I had planned to finish one on old CNR postcards this month but I’m still trying to get some sort of blessing from the publisher.  So May became April.

            Now I don’t have a clue about most engines apart from approximately when they were running on my favourate railway and what they were used for in prototype service. Order numbers and class designations?  Not for me.  I’d no sooner commit that to memory than be able to correctly identify a particular tree along the roadside.  Yet the GMD1, in both of its profiles, is easily identifiable to most of us.  In fact, it’s quite famous in the Canadian modelling world given the relative few numbers built when compared to other 1st generation diesels.  The following pictures demonstrate the four main colour schemes that adorned these engines.

            This is a first.  I think.  All of the photos in the Proto-file are mine but this beauty belongs to an old friend of mine Bill Slim.  Although it’s taken in Portage la Prairie MB I got it from him sometime in the ‘70’s while we were both stationed in Cold Lake.  Many more great photos by Bill can be seen at http://www.cordovastation.ca/index.htm To be honest, I included this picture just to show off the colour scheme.  Not my favourate paint job but I’m in a minority I understand.  Love how the angle of the sun highlights every detail on the long hood.  Great shot!