Due to increased traffic it was voted to add the following steam engine to my CPR steam Roster.
!(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m620/northern10/cpr 4-6-2/vhcpr4-8-4northern.jpg)
I just had to balance out the CPR roster, my CN roster has a couple of 4-8-4’s and 2-10-2’s so I need another larger engine besides the Selkirk and the Hudsons.
Excellent move [tup]
How many 4-8-4’s did CPR have? I know that they weren’t very numerous, but they were certainly a handsome locomotive. Congratulations.
Tom
K1a! I want one too!!!
CPR had the grand total of two of these.
However, both were saved from being scrapped, one is in the National Science Museum in Ottawa and the other is on static display in Regina. In an article on these engines it was noted that they shared the same boiler as the Selkirk.
There was a rumour that CPR was actually looking at refurbishing one of these for use as an excursion train.
Another CPR anomaly is that they also had two 4-8-2’s Mountain locomotives. These engines were in fact somewhat smaller than the G3 series Heavy Pacific engines.
Drool, drool, drool, drool[bow][swg][(-D]
How about a few more details like the scale, the manufacturer, is it DCC…etc.
Great looking locomotive! Congratulations!
Dave
Dave,
Thanks
This is an oldie, it is HO brass Van Hobbies (Pacific Fast Mail) import from 1977, It was custom painted and other than being tested it was never run. It has a can motor and DC powered.
It is from a total production run of 150 locomotives. I am told that it and the H1a (not streamlined) Hudson which was produced the same year are two of the best running locomotives ever produced for PFM.
If it can pull as well and run as well as the Hudson H1a’s I will be pleased.
These engines are surprisingly easy to convert to DCC. Not sure at this time if I will add sound but will convert to DCC.
By far the best looking CPR locomotive, and none of that “Royal” streamlining to spoil the look, the K-1-a (two of them) were built in 1928 in Montreal, 3101 was originally in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan then moved to Regina where it sat in a park beside a steel pipe mill where a lot of locomotives were melted down for pipe, it was neglected for many years and probably deteriorated so badly could never be refurbished, not that any more steam locomotives will ever be brought back to running condition in Canada, powers to be have no interest in these endeavours. The CPR referred to them as "Northern Type 4-8-4.
Is that paint scheme prototypical for any point? It’s rare to see photos of them from yesteryear, and I only remember the steel clad boiler of the 3100 in Ottawa.
An interesting point of history is that these were the first attempt by CP at creating heavier locomotives in the 1920s. Shortly after these two were built, H.B. Bowen took over as mr. master locomaker, and realized that CP would be better served by having lower speed locomotives, so he took the K1a design and turned it into the successful T1a Selkirk.
Incidentally, Bowen is the guy behind all of CP’s best known steam, being at his post from 1929 (or was it 28?) until the end, no steam locomotives were designed after he left. He designed the Hudsons, both Royal and not, the 4-4-4 Jubilees, and the successful and modern light 4-6-2 G5 Pacifics.
The Northerns were mostly kept to overnight passenger service between Montreal and Toronto where their power and speed was put to good use.
From Mtl. to To. for 35 years then they worked the maritimes and then sent West to work the prairies, I remember them in Moose Jaw.
If you are in Ottawa next weekend (July 21/22 2012) it is the Railway Weekend at the CMSTM, the BRS crew will be firing up the big hook and demonstrating the Jordan Spreader in operation. Plus the Shay will be in operation.
When you are there they will also have guided tours including the locomotive hall, where 3100 lives. Plus the back storage areas will be open.
A 1928 film showing the building of 3101 at CPR’s Angus shops is available on You Tube, titled “3685 horsepower steam locomotive”
Well the CPR K1a arrived today.
I had it apart in about three minutes on my work bench from the time I was handed the package by the post office delivery person to the time I separated the superstructure from the frame.
The model needed a good oiling and lubing, I do not think it was ever oiled or lubed.
The rubber hose between the motor and gearbox did need replacing.
There is absolutely no wear on the wheels. It does need some minor touch up painting on a few of the corners.
I ran this locomotive for about an hour and a half now. It is one heavy engine, it will pull seven of the new Canadian Rapido coaches without a problem up a 2% grade, it barely slows down.
I had the K1a and the Selkirk double heading so I used all ten of the Canadian coaches, it looked great except the coaches are too new. I will need to obtain a few more coaches from Con-cor in the CPR Maroon. As good as it looks, it is just too long for my layout with that many coaches.
Went to take some pictures and of course I must have left my camera on somehow as the batteries are dead so will have to go shopping today for new batteries before I can post any new pics.