Canadian National, Eh?

Ken nice picture thanks for sharing with us.

Here's my old trusty Lionel CN Dash 9 from around the turn of the century...
This old girl will match anything out there for reliability & sound.
One of my favorite engines and a staple on my layout
By now she must have half million scale miles under its belt..
Joe

JC642 The old girl still looks very nice. Your "Life Saver" Cylindrical hooper and CN box car look nice also. Thanks for posting.

Besides blowing some money on Stinky the toy garbage truck, I'm considering purchasing these CN themed items -

MTH's Premier 20K Gallon 4-Compartment Tank Car, item no. 20-96204.

MTH's Premier CN 100 Ton Hopper Car, item no. 20-97706.

I especially like that, flat primer/brown(rust) looking color of the Hopper. I find flat paints, really look good on curved surfaces.



JC642,

Who made your U50C... do you have any pictures of the whole engine, that show the detailing?


Rick

quote:

Originally posted by VOX:
Besides blowing some money on Stinky the toy garbage truck, I'm considering purchasing these CN themed items -

MTH's Premier CN 100 Ton Hopper Car, item no. 20-97706.

I especially like that, flat primer/brown(rust) looking color of the Hopper. I find flat paints, really look good on curved surfaces.


Rick

Rick you mean something like this

Ya...Bill, something like that. I like that look. I've got one of those hoppers in the off-white CN livery, with the green curved track; and road logo.

I've got an Atlas O CP Trinity 5161 Cu. Ft. Covered Hopper, that's quite nice... I wouldn't mind having a CN version.

I've got some nice looking Premier CP flat cars, with bulkheads, on order.

For some reason... I like those MTH Premier flat cars, with a die-cast Sherman tank load, as well... another possibility.


Rick

quote:

Originally posted by VOX:
Ya...Bill, something like that. I like that look. I've got one of those hoppers in the off-white CN livery, with the green curved track; and road logo.

Rick

I also like this one

OK, some CN questions:

Did CN-----

1. Have "RPO" cars?

2. Have "REA" cars?

3. Are Weaver CN/CV express boxes "real deal?

4. Did any CN "RPO's" and/or "REA" cars cross into the US?

The special cooling package IS the "tunnel motor" radiators in the rear!

Then the SD45t-2's came out, it was the era of wage and price controls. So EMD called the new model a "SD45-2 with a special cooling package". That way, it was considered by the government as a mod of an existing model, not a new one.

Amtrak's SDP40F is a like case. A "cowl" mod of the SDP40 instead of a new model.

quote:

JC642,

Who made your U50C... do you have any pictures of the whole engine, that show the detailing?

That would be MTH. about 7 or 8 years ago.
Don't want to hijack the CN discussion but here's she is awhile back as it was waiting to enter the turntable in the UP yard..
Its a big and very nice engine
Joe

Here are just a few pictures of my Weaver CNR U-4a #6401 on our layout. Hope you like the pictures. BTW, this model is a great runner!!!

Regards, Stefan

Bill,

Thanks for the pics... I like the covered gon.


JC642,


Thanks for showing the U50C... I like that odd looking unit... sort of has a robot looking face, to it.


Rick

OK, the CN had E-units, what happened to them? VIA had 3, but I thought they came from the CP.

Stefan,

The 6401 looks great... one of the best looking, and unique, 4-8-4 models that I have seen... must be brass.


Rick

Below are so,e pictures of my CN passenger equipment.

Bill,

My compliments re: a number of the items seen in your pics. Do you have that same 4-8-4 that Stefan posted? One of the steam units, in your pictures, has a similar looking front?

Love your coaling tower...the steam era had some great looking track-side infrastructure.

Rick

Rick My Mountain engine is an MTH side number 6060. I think Stefan's may be a Weaver. I have about 4 of the CN Mountain engines for my older CN Passenger cars.

The coaling tower is a GGD model that they did a super job on.

I had a green and black Heavy Weight RPO "Royal Mail" car for Dominic.

Also wanted to show the Black and White passenger cars as well.

Bill,

Canadian steam, as you know, had it's own distinctive look. CN's 4-8-4 Northern is no exception... one of the best re: Northern design. I especially like the semi-streamlined fronts.

Rick

So there was a "RPO in Canada, for the Royal Mail Service.

So when did CN and CP get out of carrying mail?

Excellent thread. I was totally unaware that CNR had E units. My understanding is CP were the only ones that ordered these. I remember seeing them on the scrap line at Ogden Shops here in Calgary in the 1980's. CN did have PA's, they were demonstrators on loan from ALCO. They were painted in the very early Green/Gold Scheme. CN did not care for them and they were sent back to ALCO.
As for RPO and Express Cars, yes CNR did have many of these and would have run into the US on trains like the "Internation Limited" and others.
CN or at that time(Grand Trunk/Canadian Northern)used the Yellowhead Pass route thru the Rockies, which by the way was the easiest route of ANY railway on the Continent. This route was orginally surveyed by the CPR as the best route, but was rejected due to the threat of James Hill's(Canadian) Great Northern threat of laying track into the then isolated, but resource rich(not part of Canada yet) territory of British Columbia.
British Columbia would not become a part of Confederation, if they did have a railway connection and the Canadian Government under the leadership of Sir John A Macdonald needed a southern route. This forced William Van Horne(American in charge of building the CPR) to send survey crews(again) into the most impossible area's to find a crossing of the Rockies. Major Rodgers(American)did find a Pass, in which to run the rails thru and had the Pass named after him. Al

quote:

As for RPO and Express Cars

MTH cataloged a CN express reefer a few years back.
I've been hoping for a GTW express car to match the passenger cars, but nothing yet.
Joe

Al lots of GREAT information. The railways really have had a LARGE inmpact on the opening up and development of the US & Canada.

When did BC become a part of Canada?

Al thanks again for your contribution to the thread.

Below is a picture of the GTW6325 4-8-4 U-3b.
The background story of GTW6325 located on the Age of Steam Roundhouse follows below the picture.





Built: February 1942
Wheel Arrangement: 4-8-4
Cylinder Bore/Stroke: 26" x 30"
Driver Diameter: 73"
Boiler Pressure: 250 psi
Tractive Effort: 59,000 Lbs.
Engine Weight: 403,000 Lbs.
Weight on Drivers: 245,000 Lbs.
Fuel: Coal
GTW Class: U-3b
Status: Serviceable

Between 1998 and 2001, the 6325 underwent an extensive restoration at the Ohio Central's Morgan Run Shops facility.

The 6325 was one of thirty-seven 6300s pulling fast, dependable freight and passenger trains from 1929 to the mid-1950s on the Grand Trunk Western Railroad. This handsome 4-8-4 belonged to the class of U-3-bs built by Alco in 1942. Built as dual service locomotives, these locomotives were the last new steam power assigned to the GTW.

The U-3-b class was right at home with GTW's road profile and characteristics running almost one-quarter of a million miles between heavy repairs. 6325 could easily handle sixteen car passenger trains or eighty car hotshot freights with equal ease on the Chicago Division. Her forte was heavy passenger and fast freight service. All U-3-bs were known as good steamers and were liked by all engine crews, 6325 was no exception.

On the Grand Trunk Western, she was the ultimate in modern steam power. 6325 is survived only by sister Number 6323, now on display at the Illionois Railway Museum in Union, ILL. 6323 was the very last steam locomotive owned by the GTW and was the very last steam locomotive of any type to run on GTW rails under GTW ownership, doing so on September 20, 1961.

6325 was donated to the City of Battle Creek, MI in October 1959. She was put on public display and sat idle until 1985. That year, what started out as a plan to save a grand example of the steam era, became too large a project for an ever shrinking group of people. In the beginning, they were enthusiastic and optimistic, but as time wore on the ranks of volunteers steadily became smaller and fund raising efforts became less productive. In 1992, the Michigan restoration group was notified by the Grand Trunk Railroad/CN North America's legal department that 6325 would have to be moved from it's current siding. Faced with dwindling volunteers, low money influx and no place to call home, the Greater Battle Creek Foundation was through.

In 1993, Jerry J. Jacobson stepped in and purchased the locomotive and auxiliary tender. He moved the 4-8-4 to the Ohio Central Railroad. Stored on a siding in Coshocton, OH, it wasn't until the fall of 1998 that OHCR restoration efforts began. She moved for first time under her own power on July 31, 2001.

quote:

I've been hoping for a GTW express car to match the passenger cars, but nothing yet.

Joe, Weaver had a GTW Express a year or so back. Might be worth checking around for. It's not an exact match color wise, but I figure the real ones weren't either. I have one & think it looks good with my MTH GTW Madisons.

Here's the CN version, which is still being made.

Popsrr is right my U4-a is a Weaver model. They made the blue version for the "Royal Train" and the GTW U4-b version. Very nice model and great runner!
I have 4 Steam Engines
so far.
- Sunset U-2g #6218 from last year.
- Weaver U4-a #6401 from 2004 (I think)
- Weaver K5-a #5702 from This year
- Weaver N4-a #2534 from a while ago (can't remember when this was released)

I have a few CNR passenger cars for them to pull
- (8) GGD 70' Heavyweight Cars
- (10) Weaver Streamliner cars modified with 2-Rail MTH trucks
- (2) different Weaver RPO's
- (1) Weaver baggage
- (1) Weaver Express Woodside Reefer
- (1) Weaver Express Boxcar
- (1) Lionel Express Boxcar

Regards, Stefan

British Columbia became part of Confederation on July 20 1871. Also, some of the orginal grades on the CPR were deemed "temporary" by Van Horne, as they were in excess of the accepted 2%. The "Big Hill" in Kicking Horse Pass(Field BC) for example was a dangerous 5% grade with 5 safety switches to deal with runaways. There were many mishaps on the "Big Hill" including runaways,boiler explosions and derailments. The CPR however, never had a passenger fatality.
Roger Pass was also notorius for the railway. Orginal route, included elevated loops in the valley bottom to reduce the grade and numerous snowsheds.
Avalanches and slides were(are)a constant threat and have taken many lives of railway workers over the years.
Of Course opening of the "Spiral Tunnels" in 1909, "Connaught Tunnel"and the most recent, "Macdonald Tunnel" have greatly reduced the dangers for railway operations.
You can never quite really appreciate the difficulties that have been overcome until you can visit these areas yourself(I highly recommend it!). They are still prone to road closures at anytime of the year. Al

Al thanks for your reply on the timing of BC.

You say that CPR never had a passenger terminal? hELP ME WITH THAT please.

While the "Big Hill" was in operation, CPR never lost a passenger due to an accident. Al

How about some pics-

Bill,and any CN Tunnel Motor fans,



The prototype for our MTH SD40T-3 Tunnel Motors, the 401, was involved in a head-on, on September 30, 2010. Apparently two ore trains collided.

Goggle - RailPictures.Net Photo DMIR 401 Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range for a picture.


Rick

I thought the SP Sunset route was the easiest transcon route!

Weaver also made a GT express box like the CN!

quote:

Originally posted by VOX:
Bill,and any CN Tunnel Motor fans,



The prototype for our MTH SD40T-3 Tunnel Motors, the 401, was involved in a head-on, on September 30, 2010. Apparently two ore trains collided.

Goggle - RailPictures.Net Photo DMIR 401 Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range for a picture.


Rick

Rick the story says that CN lost all Diesels involved in the head on crash. Looks like it happened as one Ore train was headed west in MN and the other was on a siding and a dispatcher cleared the consist on the siding to move out onto the main and they hit head on.All 5 Crew members were hurt.

The 401 that MTH used in their issue was not on point however it was destroyed as can be seen in these before and after pictures below.

One less tunnel. One less ex-SP item!

CN Intermondal.............check out the Maritime - Ontario, ZIM and
Armour containers......sweet!

Regards,
Swafford

Bill,


Thanks for the background info. Some nice shots of the 401... when it was still healthy. That locomotive had an all-business look to it.

My MTH model... is one of my personal favorites. I see that, MTH is offering it's tunnel motor again, in their latest catalog(no CN units though).


Rick

Frank,

Those SD70M-2's have one killer of a horn. When you're track-side, that horn is deafening.

Rick

Seems like many of us, who have contributed to this thread, like the real thing; and can be found track-side, on occasion. Besides watching the action, I especially like hearing the prime-movers, at speed. To me, the GE's reign in that department.

Rick