For decades, photographers, railfans, and travelers alike have been drawn to milepost 113 of Canadian Pacific’s Laggan Subdivision. Better known as “Morant’s Curve”, this legendary location in the Canadian Rockies owes its fame to the countless, iconic images captured here by C.P.R. staff photographer Nicholas Morant.

Since moving to Calgary earlier in the year, I’ve had several opportunities to visit this stunning vista, where the railway gracefully follows the Bow River Valley, framed by the majestic Bow Range. After CP’s takeover of KCS, and the subsequent formation of CPKC on April 14, 2023, I’ve been eager to capture a photograph that reflects the essence of the new railway at this esteemed location — a modern homage to the timeless work of Nicholas Morant.

Yesterday, during a family holiday to Banff, some fresh snowfall and a stroke of luck gave me the opportunity I’d been waiting for. Hearing that CP 7433, one of CPKC’s brand-new Tier 4 locomotives, was leading an eastbound intermodal train, I set out to capture the shot I’d been envisioning.

Here, Vancouver-to-Montreal hotshot no. 112 snakes through the pristine, snow-covered landscape, led by CP 7433 less than five weeks after entering service, offering a contemporary glimpse of CPKC at this celebrated location. In the background, the peaks (from left to right) are Mount Aberdeen (10,350 ft.), Saddle Mountain (7,993 ft.), Fairview Mountain (9,011 ft.), Mount Whyte (9,786 ft.), and Mount Niblock (9,764 ft.), towering above the valley of Lake Louise.

Interestingly, this marks the third time I’ve captured CP 7433 leading train 112 over the Laggan Subdivision in just three weeks. However, with 7433 as the sole leader, a clean consist of graffiti-free cars, and bright-red CP containers behind the head end, this train was the perfect subject to bring my vision to life.

As we welcome 2025, I’m eager to see what new photography opportunities lie ahead, especially after such a memorable 2024. Wishing all my friends, followers, and fellow photographers a safe and Happy New Year!

Tags:   CPKC CPKC Laggan Subdivision Morant's Curve Banff National Park Lake Louise Rockies Rocky Mountains Bow River CP 7433 CP 112 Tier 4 GE ET44AC Canadian Pacific Railroad Railfan Railway Railroading Train Trains Transportation Freight Train Locomotive Scenic Scenery Alberta Canada Canadian Winter Snow Forest Snowy Moody

© All Rights Reserved

Gap, AB - Mile 61.8 Laggan Subdivision

Tags:   Canadian Pacific CP Laggan Subdivision Gap Railroading Railroader Night

© All Rights Reserved

Beneath the towering, snow-covered forests of Yoho National Park, CPKC-painted 'Tier 4' ET44AC 7433 gleams as it presses on into its second transcontinental journey with train no. 112 for Montreal.

Tags:   CPKC Laggan Subdivision CPKC GE ET44AC CP 7433 Kicking Horse Pass The Big Hill Field British Columbia Rockies Canadian Pacific Mountain Snow Winter Wapta Lake Yoho National Park

© All Rights Reserved

Clouds swirl atop the majestic peaks of Castle Mountain as CPKC-painted locomotive KCS 4805 shoves train no. 301 through Banff National Park on the scenic Laggan Subdivision. With the unmistakable chill of winter in the air, it won’t be long before the rugged landscape is blanketed in snow.

Tags:   CPKC CPKC Laggan Subdivision KCS 4805 Castle Mountain Alberta Autumn Mountain Rockies Canada Canadian Grain Train Freight Train Scenic Scenery Canadian Pacific Train Trains Railroad Railfan Railway Railroading Locomotive GE ES44AC Shadows Golden Hour

© All Rights Reserved

The pride of CPKC's fleet - EMD FP9As 1401 and 4107, along with an attractive five-car business train - hold the main at Banff West as the tail-end remote on train no. 112 blackens the sky in diesel exhaust as it notches out of town. While the skies were (mostly) clear at the time of this photo, unbeknownst to the photographer, some 180 miles to the north, uncontrollable wildfires ravaged Jasper National Park. Within a couple of hours, the skies of Banff had turned ominously smoky, along with the gut-wrenching news that the fire had reached the Jasper townsite making for a very somber drive back to Calgary later that evening. My heart truly goes out to all affected by this unthinkable tragedy.

Tags:   Canadian Pacific Banff Banff National Park EMD FP9A EMD SD70ACU Locomotive Heritage Unit CPKC Laggan Subdivision CPKC

© All Rights Reserved