CPR 7020 ALCO 539T Engine Start October 15, 2014

After 28 years parked and cold the first diesel switcher the CPR brought to Toronto comes back to life a week before the 70th anniversary of its arrival. Located at the Toronto Railway Museum in Roundhouse Park. www.trha.ca

[@GIguy]

I can’t believe you got her to start again after being idle for so many years. I was born in Toronto in 1968, I’ve lived in the city my entire life, and I remember seeing that train when it was in service still, and then I remember seeing it just sitting there, rusting outside for years and years. I just thought it was a piece of junk, I had no idea it could ever be brought back to life, you guys are amazing mechanics! For those of you who remember, the area around the round house has changed a lot over the past 30 years hasn’t it? I still remember as a little kid driving along the gardener in the school bus on day trips, having to hold our breath as we passed by the Cherry Street smelting plant, remember that stench? And then as we went along on the right you’d see the railyard, it was absolutely massive, at least it seemed like it when I was 10 years old, I still remember the very first go train that went through there, I just look at it now, it doesn’t even look like the city that I grew up in. My Toronto is long gone, buried under a mountain of sky high Glass and steel skyscrapers, you can’t even see the Royal York anymore, but you can still see the round house, not to mention the steam whistle brewery, always have to make a stop there first before going to the train museum! But I wish I was alive before that, when steam trains ruled the rails, what I wouldn’t give to have seen the round house filled with steam trains. I haven’t been to union station for a long time, but the roof used to still bare the marks of the steam era, as black soot coated the ceiling. Now it’s become all glass, I know change is inevitable, but that entire area changed way too much too fast, and took away something that was, at least for me, so precious about the character of our city, now we’re just another generic forest of skyscrapers, with zero aesthetic appeal, and the round house is now nothing but a big tourist trap, how I long for the days before all the change begin to happen, the days when the CN Tower stood alone, when there was nothing else around it except train tracks. That’s the Toronto that I remember and love.

[@davewallace8219]

Well said!❤

[@Greenelectra78]

That's one thing I love about these old Locomotives! Sometimes it takes some coaxing, many times alot of coaxing and they always come back to life. Tilcon Wallingord had a GE 44 Tonner with 1948 CAT twin prime movers. When she was overhauled, some parts had to be made and the hunt was on for new cylinder heads. 6 months later and no more smoke, starts right up and purrs. Growing up 200' from the New Haven in the 60's, I saw every make and model at their best and worst. Rarely did I see a Locomotive dead in tow.

[@WHJeffB]

There's something mesmerizing about the sound these old Alco's make... Gotta love the S1's, 2's, 3's and 4's... Late first gen diesels that help start a revolution.Thanks for the video...

[@alcopower5710]

WHJeffB ......true. Haven’t heard a bad sounding Alco come to think of it

[@raycross1783]

Nothing like a can of 'Start ya Bastard' to do the trick !

[@scootdean4269]

Ray Cross you mean a gallon. Ha ha

[@huntsbychainsaw5986]

Love that! Lol!

[@metalmicky]

Squirt of Devils Breath usually does the trick!

[@utharkruna1116]

A few at that.

[@carlstclair9920]

Love the comment. Awesome

[@3360274]

yes that is the sound. Makes me wish I was still able to work on them. They were great four stroke engines. They would actually run on one cylinder, if well maintained. Of course, I loved the EMDs, too. Baldwin not so much. Too hard to install rod bearings on those things. Alcos were of course tuff to install rod bearings in. I installed 96 traction motor brushes on a cow and a calf, in one day. They had the hold downs that you had to hold to install them, tight squeeze for a big guy up in there. You know what they say, if you actually did it, it ain't bragging, just facts.

[@ThumperKJFK]

Yes it's all about the ALCO sound and night light show. As I can remember way back in the 1960's hear in NYC on the LIRR across the street from my parents house. At night used to run outside to see the light show as many a Alco's would show off as they moved freight in and out of the yard up a slight grade. It got so that I would know which loco was on the leed just by the sound of the exhaust. And on a hard pull of a stone or coal drag not only did I see sparks but flames and wheel slip sparks. Wow thank you guys for the memories.

[@MitzvosGolem1]

Gregory Spivey Ronkonkoma lol

[@mattmatty4670]

Good to hear old memory s. Thumbs up

[@dieselbossbrandon]

Thats a awesome memory! Thank you for sharing! I can see it in my mind. Super cool!

[@edwinstorz702]

Chris and Michael, thank you for the hard work, just to show all of us dreamers......... God Bless

[@ModelingSteelinHO]

Beautiful 539 turbo whistle . She purr's like a kitten. Thank you for sharing.

[@progx8679]

It's alive !!!! Tried and true Alco 539's. My local road was the proud old Boston & Maine and my local yard was Castle Hill in Salem, Mass. growing up in the 1960s and into late 60s and the 70s when I got around more we would go to Big B&M yard in Somerville, MA. and also Lawrence, MA at the Andover St. yard and there would always be some tired looking very weathered B&M S1, S2, S3 or S4 Switchers idling around in the B&M Switcher Black and Red stripes, Maroon and Gold Minuteman or Plain "Blue Dip" paint schemes, they were always a favorite as they burbled along ! There used to be 45 S-Type switchers on the B&M now I believe this is just one S3 left #1186 used on a summer tourist road way upstate in Lincoln, NH. Thanks for this video ! : )

[@garrattguy]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@stevenking2980]

What is it that makes me love the sound so much at 6.16? Man I love it.

[@desertbob6835]

That's a good sounding 539T....good job, fellows!

[@westsideflyer7559]

Smoke, flames and noise. Great stuff.

[@arrowguy173]

It’s great to see her come back to life! Nice job.

[@ALCoDL540]

The sound of this engine it´s simply orgasmic....

[@danielkennedy1524]

BEAUTIFUL sound! thanks!

[@charleskesner1302]

Alco smoke and distinctive sound. Love them.

[@WideWorldofTrains]

love the sound of that Alco

[@christophertaylor4394]

And a beautiful sound it is!

[@HooperWest]

The mechanical cacophony is amazing! 🚂

[@Rainhill1829]

Love that ALCO music.

[@jpsholland]

Its amazing how this old stuff always pick up again. No matter how hard the start is and how long ago the last run. I remember a video of some guys in Germany who found an old Panther tank from the second world war. They only put new oil in it and after a long start the engine came alive for the first time since the second world war 65 or more years earlier. You can see this also with a lot of old diesel locomotives like this one. Sometimes i have the impression that in the old days they made it to last forever.

[@martijnvv8031]

+jpsholland You are right, all of todays products are designed to brake down after 3 years (just after warranty is over)

[@riverhuntingdon6659]

+Martijn Vv Quite right, it's called Planned Obsolecence.

[@riverhuntingdon6659]

+jpsholland They did make it to last forever, or for at least 40 years in the case of railway rolling stock. It was often FAR more reliable and generally nicer than today's plastic rubbish.

[@john1653]

+jpsholland A shame we can't do the same for old men.

[@blackbirdgaming8147]

I think he means Panzer.

[@kingjames7273]

Absolutely impressive great job guys

[@obsoleteprofessor2034]

Friend of mine was trying to start an engine with ether and he didn't notice that he got too close to the alternator terminal. He was resting the can on the block and leaned the can over to spray into the intake and accidentally hit the hot terminal. It melted a hole in the can and sprayed all over the place. It was a wonder it didn't catch on fire or explode. It's nice to hear old iron come to life.

[@MrBeboopman]

A beautiful beastie... love the sound...

[@haroldfannin9554]

Boy I have seen that done a lot of times, There used to be three rail to river coal plants here,and every cold morning it was a job to get those old S2's started, but they ran like a top and pulled like hell!!

[@ericchevy1999]

Love that alco bark and turbo

[@rogertycholiz2218]

Very surprised they used turbochargers and superchargers in locomotives 70 years ago.

[@roballen5670]

Good old ALCO. Still purring.

[@Vinman750]

And you thought that steam locomotives were pollutants!

[@tomheck2205]

Awesome! Love the sound of these old relics. Always seen them pulling cars and have a sound all their own

[@iskanderlopezbarreno6323]

That ALCO, sounds good!

[@RODALCO2007]

Fantastic engine sound. Nice low revving diesel engine.

[@fatretardedconservativefox8265]

What a bucket of old shit i would say.

[@BenjaminEsposti]

@RODALCO2007 The cylinder bore is 12.5 inches (~318mm) and the stroke is 13 inches (~330mm). These actually rev up to about 740 rpm maximum. Slower than a truck engine but yeah when you consider the size of the components (piston, con rods, etc...) this thing is going fast.

[@christopherlovelock9104]

@@BenjaminEsposti That's why they have lasted, they were built in the days when you didn't need 5,000+ revs in order to get the load moving.There is more to go wrong on a modern one - and of course that suits the makers as you will rush to buy the latest model, it's all down to "Corporate Image". If you just restyled the body the public wouldn't be any the wiser as to what's underneath it - and 9 out of 10 wouldn't care just as long as they arrived on time. I know it's a switcher/shunter as opposed to a 'mainline' engine but the same could be done to all of them with exactly the same results.

[@blackbirdgaming8147]

Fat Retarded Conservative Fox Viewer ALCOs deserve more credit. They helped usher in 4 stroke engines which gave us GE. The fact that this thing can still run on only a couple cylinders after many years of sitting proves that it’s not some pile of shit.

[@bababooey7576]

What i wouldn't give to be as close to that machine as the camera man at the end...awesome machinery

[@bababooey7576]

@Satunnainen Katselija No, no I wouldn't at all...then again, I don't own a camera. I don't need to be as close as the camera guy, anymore either--not as interested these days. 😅

[@carlosturren2683]

Hermoso video ; me encantó esa "latita mágica" y ese sonido ALCo. Muchas gracias.

[@garrattguy]

+Carlos Turren Me alegro de que te haya gustado .

[@MFXdump]

I actually thought the motor would Run Away. Good job!

[@phatrides222000]

+MFXdump i was waiting on it. lol

[@FSXNOOB]

Old stuff that was made to last for ever, if you put a new train from now to rest for 26 years, it will be dead for life after it.

[@alcopower5710]

FSXNOOB - GAMES & MORE ......wouldn’t even make it that long as it would be scrapped more than likely. Sad that most things are considered disposable these days

[@brianblankenship1869]

That's why I like older vehicle's in general. They were built to last. They could take a beating. Not like the newer junk that's built to go kabang when the dealer wants a vacation.

[@whiteknightcat]

I couldn't help but smile as the old girl sputtered to life.

[@Anolbea]

Bravo! What a sound..

[@TheWolfiet]

that Alco sounds like it is running GREAT. I work around several tug boats that sound similar. I am sort of curious what sort of engine they run on now.

[@edwinstorz702]

GOD................I LOVE IT AND WISH I WAS THERE

[@MC-gp9ke]

seen cp rail trains all my life, but never seen a engine start before, never mind in engine that sat for 8yrs. great job cp rail

[@slimchancetoo]

+Mel Colp Make that 28 (twenty eight) years

[@MC-gp9ke]

+slimchancetoo thank you..28years. amazing after 8years, but even so more after 28. I am amazed they started after that long.

[@slimchancetoo]

Mel Colp Well really why would it not start ??? The engine itself has no sense of the time that it has been idle - it is 'hermetically sealed' from the outside world and is well protected against rust and oxidisation by lubricants, In reality - to take nothing away from the guys who started it - there is little difference between starting an engine after 28 days 28 weeks or 28 years. Hope I do not offend you or anyone else -- but those are the facts.

[@techmantra4521]

I think it needs.... CPR... I'll show myself out.

[@xenomorph2056]

HAAAH! 😆 *slaps knee*

[@liamthewerewolf8233]

Ba dum tsss!

[@jonadkins8007]

We used to have one of these where I work at in our steel mill. Painted yellow and the number was 611. Keystone Steel & Wire Bartonville, IL plant.

[@sheilasembly-crum8447]

Love the sounds!

[@lbbradley55]

Well there it is. I knew this Engine had a inline 6 Cyl 2 Stroke Diesel in it. ! Good Stuff...

[@lbbradley55]

@Joe Madej well Joe I watched the Cat Engine Video & I thought it would be a 4 Stroke but they made it a 2 Stroke. ! & Stated that they had to. Like all the others. But you may sure know something I don't...! Not claiming any. But the GM are for sure. & Look just like the 238 & 318 & 460 Ect. Ect. Witch I Drove for 31 yrs. They were all GM or Detroit. 2 Strokes & then in 1988 Because of the EPA they stopped building & we got first 60 series 4 stroke DETROIT or they were really John Deere Tractor Engines. EPA EMISSIONS Restrictions. ! I tell ya Something else. If ya don't have any Either you can use a Rag & wet it Gas & lay it over the intake. Works just the Same. But they WILL GET ADDICTED to it !!!

[@6380BAN]

E pensar que aqui no Brasil tivemos "circa" 50 locomotivas modelo RS-1 com a mesma configuração de motor (engine). Eu não pude conhecê-la, mas eu noto no vídeo o quanto o conjunto motor (engine) 539T encanta pelo barulho que ele produz; um barulho diferente, até fora de "sinfonia", mas muito bonito de se ouvir (very beaultiful to listen)!!!

[@bluecollarcanuck]

i still remember when CP Air was around...orange early-model 737s with the Pac-Man logo on the tails. :) Love that diesel engine noise, though....*clunketaclunketaclunketarattlerattlerattlerattlerattlerattle*

[@utharkruna1116]

Sounds great. Thanks man

[@johnhumphrey1277]

A little smoke and a little fire, I hope you are having fun

[@robertomeara6653]

Bon souvenirs, yardman/trainman Montreal 1974 Loved it !

[@JohnmillerPowerlifting]

well done getting it going again

[@rolandalfonso6954]

this was wonderful.

[@RANDOMMekhaniks]

Did he just spray starting fluid in the intake? Wowza

[@cpeast]

Awesome, nice to see an old Alco s2 in running condition. Hellfire at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="182">3:02</a>!.

[@nomon95]

the engine have compression depresors to easy the work of the starter??

[@cdnpont]

28 years. Without any storage treatment? Impressive. Thank god for Ether.

[@albertcyphers1532]

Either should be banned. WD-40 does the same job without washing the oil from the cylinders

[@XBOXShawn12thman]

I LOVE IT!!!! That was AWESOME!!! 😍

[@JayJr2007]

Amazing!

[@janmalan8204]

wow after so many years

[@Builder99]

ok what fuel was used ...whatever was in the tank or new fuel ??

[@leegenix]

At the <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="100">1:40</a> time mark, is that man spraying Starting Ether in the intake? If so, that is really potent stuff. I was told to use that to start a Case 570 backhoe years ago in cold weather. I was new to the job, but did was to told to do. When that engine started, it went crazy as if a runaway engine with sparks flying and went crazy for a few seconds. Later when I asked a local farm mechanic, he said not to use too much as it might destroy the engine. The job was my first introduction to heavy equipment. I quickly learned that the water district and the equipment they used, were old, antiques, and in major need of repair or replacement. I hated that job which only paid $4.00 an hour since it was classified as Farm work.

[@gravelydon7072]

Only way to get one to start on a really cold day. ;-) That and cut out 3 cylinders and cross your fingers. Fun to watch the smoke come out of the exhaust, fall on the hood, fall on the running board, and then fall on the ground.

[@cellogirl11rw55]

You've got quite a dragon there!

[@SimonOfFortune]

Would have loved to hear that old WABCO E3 horn

[@Taronlusin]

It is music to my ear!

[@6r14]

Nice sound !

[@captwar]

I would recumbent fuel conditioner. Nice video. I do wish they had shown more of what they did to work on the engine.

[@captwar]

+Anthony Smith What is that supposed to mean?

[@xaenon]

+Warner Athey I think he means that 'recumbent' in your original post should be 'recommend'.

[@thebug4046]

sweet old motor after they got it running

[@ohmmeters]

Nice video, thank You.

[@jorgemieli3307]

alco sound

[@AzTrailRider57]

Those big Diesels are so clankity, how do you know when it's getting read to frow a rod??? There's a kathuhk kathunk kathunk noise in there that would be making me nervous.

[@garrattguy]

+AzTrailRider57 I can't anwer your question exactly but these diesels were designed by guys in the steam era. Chunky doesn't begin to describe the scantlings in use here. This is a six cylinder machine producing a thousand horsepower at a quite low rpm by modern standards. It isn't about to throw a rod just because a bearing might have a few thou too much clearance.

[@theanimerailfans2ndchannel705]

Hey this was posted on my birthday !

[@bcgrittner]

Firing on two cylinders out of six…sounds like a car I owned.

[@buntik1687]

This is so cool!

[@keithbrier4397]

alcos are awesome

[@All_Noing]

Having worked for Hunter Harrison, this unit was probably put into service while nicer, new power was put into storage.

[@sorshiaemms5959]

my favorite diesel locomotive

[@Ichwillkeinenaliascheisyoutube]

CP Rail , Technology for the Future ...... :-)

[@alejandroroji9077]

Tears rolled down my cheeks. She is alive...!!!!! She is alive...!!!!!

[@jw4620]

Great! Thanks!

[@schnuurtchke]

Look at all that smoke that’s generated from this locomotive

[@mshum538]

Only when cold from a start-up , that exhaust~ exhaust ~ cleared up after reaching operating temperature…

[@CarsandEngines]

Good Job with the video :) Nice review

[@brycenvictor2714]

i know Im asking randomly but does anybody know of a method to log back into an Instagram account? I stupidly lost the password. I love any assistance you can give me

[@jimmybryant7942]

@Brycen Victor instablaster =)

[@brycenvictor2714]

@Jimmy Bryant i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site through google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff atm. Takes quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@brycenvictor2714]

@Jimmy Bryant it worked and I now got access to my account again. Im so happy! Thank you so much, you saved my ass :D

[@jimmybryant7942]

@Brycen Victor happy to help =)

[@90STETURBO]

Sounds like a baldwin 606 but without the wheezing sounds. first 539T i have heard. Nice video. was there much difference between this and the 538T?

[@towcat]

some people: Wow, that runs terribly. Anyone who's into trains or old diesel engines: Nah, it's just waking up.

[@FritzMcYeet]

Soooo, does this thing get used at all? Or does it just sit there, to be seen by the people?

[@MrJerbrad]

If I was a buyer for a major railroad, as soon as I heard that noise,I would be running to EMD and say whatever you got,I will buy it.

[@samthemultimediaman]

ya guys clean the injectors and fuel system out first?

[@PiotrTester]

Awesome uszlachetniacze - testy i opinie

[@captwar]

I would recommend fuel conditioner. Nice Video. I do wish they had shown more of what they did to work on the engine.

[@slimchancetoo]

+Warner Athey Well I think those two aerosols on the walkway might be the world famous Aerostart !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@garrattguy]

+Warner Athey Thre are other videos that show some of that. search You tube for 7020

[@Imintune...]

Is this unit fully restored now ?

[@chrisjohnson2403]

I'd be curious to know, how much oil does that beast hold? Does anyone know out there?

[@garrattguy]

+Chris Johnson Sure. 80 imperial gallons. Water is 240 imp gallons.

[@bootednancy]

Aye Captain........I put all the DiLithium Crystals in the anti-matter pods, but I still think she's gonna blow !!!

[@justinturner9342]

That turbo Sounds like a federal q siren and a fire truck

[@brenthill3241]

Now let's take it out for a ride.

[@tpvalley]

Theres a couple of these preserved in the UK believe it or not, ex british steel.

[@papabits5721]

That classic look

[@edilsonmartins6653]

Esse motor tem um barulho muito bonito.

[@bishop7534]

don't know much about trains but she sounded like I feel after a long nap, slow to move while wanting to get that extra 10 minutes.

[@ReadingAreaRailfan]

Does CP roster any Alcos at all anymore??

[@iBackshift]

I seen buddy giving about a 1/2 a can of ether-bomb there for the 3rd or 4th start....haha. Smokin alcos

[@eoinkavanagh8056]

The video said it had sat idle for 28 years and for a few seconds I thought he meant it was running straight longer than I’ve been alive.

[@PeterWalkerHP16c]

Thank god for aerostart!

[@wishusknight3009]

What was the reason it was not firing on all 6 at first? was that just due to it being cold? or were the injectors not functioning?

[@garrattguy]

Injectors and pumps were all rebuilt. Just cold. Once we got all cylinders firing and ran it a bit, it started fine the next time.

[@tomroise9426]

Yes this is very cool as the sounds are important. What is the current status of this unit?

[@garrattguy]

Still parked at the museum, not aware if it has been started recently. Doubt it.