I understand that, with their large drivers, the Pacifics (4-6-2) were primarily used for passenger trains. Did the CN also used them for hauling freight in the 50’s?
I saw a photo of a Pacific used as a helper on a freight train but none as the primary mover.
It’s very probable that the pacifics were used in freight. I’m not positive on the CN but I do know there is video of CP 2317 on freight duties toward the end of it’s CP career before ending up at Steamtown. At the very least there are instances on most railroads of passenger engines being used in freight in either a shake down run after rebuild or just being power short. Engines also get replaced from higher profile jobs and demoted to branch service, frieght, or work trains (where ever useful) before retirement.
Hi. There is a picture in Kevin Holland’s book (CN Steam in color, vol 1) showing a Pacific pulling freight. I strongly recommend these books for CN and CP modellers, they are extremely useful. Simon
Especially late in the steam era, it wasn’t unusual to see ‘passenger’ steam engines running out their last days on freight. On the flipside, IIRC the CN 2-8-2 at Steamtown was regularly used on passenger train locals running to - from Port Arthur / Ft. William Ontario (today’s Thunder Bay).
The Erie Railroad used Pacifics on branchlines for freight service on weekends when they were not needed for commuter service.
On the NYC the K-11 Class Pacifics with 70" Drivers were almost exclusively used in Freight Service.
Also the ACL Pacifics were used in Fast Freight (read pershible fruit) service from Florida to the Northeast.
Rick J
The RF&P was very unusual in that they never owned a 2-8-0 nor a 2-8-2. Freight was handled by 4-6-0’s, 4-6-2’s, 4-8-2’s, and 4-8-4’s. The 2-wheel lead trucks found on the road’s WWII era 2-8-4’s were an aberration. RF&P wanted more 4-8-4’s, but the War Production Board had a different opinion.
Tom
Gidday Guy, I have been known to be wrong on more occasions than I care to admit but notwithstanding Simons reference to a photo, I’d suggest that the Canadian National Pacifics were mainly employed in their designed role as passenger locomotives to the end of steam.
Looking at the scrapping dates it would appear that there more than enough CN 4-8-4s to carry out the freight duties till they were replaced by diesels.
As an aside it would appear that the CP designed its Pacifics as Mixed Traffic engines and as such, while lacking in photos (on the net at least), there is plenty of evidence that they were used in freight and even snow plough service till the end.
Cheers, the Bear.[:)]
It should be remembered that most CN Pacifics had been built for predecessor roads and were not of a consistent design.
They fell into two groups, class J with 69" driving wheels and class K with 72" driving wheels. Those with 69" xdrivers would be considered as mixed traffic types…
check out:
http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/photos/cnr_steam2/pacific.htm
There are a number of photos with a box car behind the loco but these could be for express or be part of a mixed train. A complete mixed train is illustrated. Theb photos generally date from the 1930s to the 1950s.
The CPR built Pacifics in pairs with either 75" or 70" driving wheels…
The older lighter Pacifics were classes G-1 and G-2
The heavier type were classes G-3 and G-4.
A class G-5 built in the 1940s was a modernised G-2 intended for both freight and passenger on lighter track.
CPR also had two typres of Mikado, P-1 and P-2 that shared the boilers with the G-1 and G-3 respectively.
In particular, the smaller wheeled G-4s were based in British Columbia for passenger service on heavy grades.
M636C
CN subsidiary GTW in Michigan used J class light pacifics on branch line mixed trains, there are a lot of photos of 4-6-2 powered trains on the Caseville branch.
Guy,
I have the complete set of Ian Wilson’s books on CN steam in southern Ontario. There are many photos of Pacifics, especially the light ones, used on branchline freight in the '50s.
CN Charlie
I recently saw video of two G5s being transported from the Virginia Central to Winnipeg, Manitoba. I’m not sure of what’s planned for them, but both appear to be in relatively good condition.
There’s apparently more info (for Trains subscribers only) to be found here:
former-canadian-pacific-4-6-2s-to-move-to-winnipeg-from-virginia
Wayne
There’s a current item on the Classic Trains site under The Way it Was. The title is Green Beans and Trains. The author describes his experiences in Ohio, picking beans beside the Erie while an Erie K-4 4-6-2 worked the local freight.
Tom
Not really an answer to this topic, but also not offtopic:
I heard a few times that CN used their T-2a 2-10-2´s (which had more traction force than CP´s Selkirks and were the strongest steamers in Canada by the way) also in passenger service in the Rocky Mountains in British Columbia. Was that regularily or occasionally?
Good question, I searched a number of records of the CNR 2-10-2’s and found this site.
Old Time Trains
Try searching, http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/13/p/2785894/reply.aspx
It appears that the CNR were operated between Toronto and the Maritimes only.
CNR had a lot of 2-8-4 and 4-8-4 locomotives and many of them worked the western provinces. These would most likely be your Rocky Mountain haulers
http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/photos/cnr_steam2/santa_fe.htm
Haven’t had a close read, only a look at this page, but it’s good for another cup of coffee.