UP Alco FA's sealed the fate of 65 CPR Steam Locos stored for strategic reserve

Classic Trains General Discussion
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I despised these covered wagons that were dug out of the scrap line in Cheyenne, Wyoming, since their lease prevented the return of steam to handle a huge increase of traffic exporting wheat to Russia during a failed crop season there. No others could be found anywhere. They had to be kept together and not m.u ed with other units due to their having manual transition something our engineers were not familiar with causing them difficulties. Furthermore, they were well-worn and had to be given a 10% tonnage reduction even in summer! It would have to be a pretty bad winter in southern Ontario to apply a tonnage reduction to our power. About 65 steam engines were held from scrapping as a strategic reserve. Sad! – CPR Engineer

Leased power

UP_1616_1601 with engineer looking back.

UP 1627

UP 1641

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So what if the CPR activated their strategic reserve of 65 steam locomotives instead of leasing this junk from the UP.

Well they would have been the darlings of the media for quite some time. Railfans and average folk would throng to the tracks in scores. Passenger service, what was left, would see a marked boost, just out of gratitude and remeberance. No amount of advertising or goodwill could have matched that decision.

I think it would have been very easy to do. Roundhouses were still intact, water and coal towers still intact, a skilled and very excited workforce was still around. I’m sure there would be some clitches and gremlins at the start but soon ironed out.

It’s too bad this didn’t happen. They kept the strategic reserve for a reason. There is your reason. You think the CPR would know what they are doing. I say they chickened out.

If only! I say they made a tactical error and missed a golden opportunity to make history.

3

And today we’d see railfan pilgrimages, likely from many sources that know or care little about Canadian steam, to see matched sets of FAs in service…

I suspect by 1964, when the pictures are dated, there was no longer enough established ‘infrastructure’ to support 65 steam locomotives in ordinary for-profit freight service.

Pity Canada was an affluent country, unlike Poland under the Warsaw Pact where large “reserves” of steam locomotives could be indefinitely justified as part of national policy…

4

Not so sure about that. The water tank is clearly visible. A awful lot of infrastructure to support steam was still intact because it needed to be matched to the strategic reserve.

I can see this as a decision by management, in their 1964 suits, smoking away like madmen, greasy slicked back hair trying to wash their hands from the past.

Can you imagine if the steam decision was made… we would still be talking about that famous time.

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Also I suspect that all the important positions of management had changed considerably since the initial decision was made to have that reserve. Not the same bunch of folks. They had no use for steam, fearing they would be perceived as backwards and ridiculed.

However I was around in those days and quite aware and I can attest much of the infrastructure was still standing especially in Southern Ontario. Water and coal towers were in every town, including where I lived in Burlington. Also in Hamilton and London. In sight along highways and such. It started disappearing en masse mid 60’s.

Yes Canada is an affluent country but leasing a whack of UP derated ready for scrap Diesels in order to appear not to be backwards when prudent measures were taken well ahead of time seems vain. Not to mention the lost experience to us all. Oh well, that’s what happened.

Would have been a fun time, one more time, the real deal.

Perhaps they should have tapped into that British heritage they cling to because the Brits were sure as heck running mainline steam everywhere at the time.

6

Steam infrastructure didn’t disappear that quickly during the early 60’s, as a matter of fact if the CPR was like a lot of American 'roads chances are all they did with the steam support facilities was lock the doors and walk away, especially when they found out those same facilities didn’t work too well for diesels. Demolition costs money, and if you don’t have to spend it right away then why rush?

If I remember correctly, the Union Pacific didn’t retire the last of their Challengers and Big Boys until '61 or '62. They weren’t runnning them of course, just keeping them around “just in case.”

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Leased Diesels.

I was living in Montreal when those UP FA/Bs were around, plus locomotives from other US Roads. Memorable were the B&LE EMD F Units which lasted for years.

Over a period of time Montreal hosted Alco power from D&H, SOO and B&M, also B&M EMD Fs.

Ottawa. Locomotive far right is an E8. Tank-type tower is for locomotive coal, several built after the War.

http://www.canadianrailwayobservations.com/2010/nov10/lbc779brucechapman.jpg

There were three 3 CPR Steam engines stored outside for quite a while, CP 1227-1272 and CP 2409, the latter apparently the LAST steam locomotive to go thru Angus Shops.

CNRs last overhaul in Montreal was CN 49, one of the Tank Engines.

http://www.shpsc.org/images/locomotive-vapeur.jpg

The 3 CP Locomotives were pictured in a glossy Ziel book " Twilight of Steam " as I recall. Could be wrong.

I DOUBT CP would be able to support steam after late 1961 or early 1962 as much of the infrastructure would be gone, as well as many of the Support Staff.

The last CPR steam engine I saw under steam was a light move over to Westmount in Feb 1961 for stationary coach heating Service. We heard the WHISTLE!! and hoped.

WINTER plays a BIG factor in Steam operation re FREEZING and Steam heat would have to be kept up in m

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NDG-- If anywhere the CPR could have pulled this off out of John St. Roundhouse, Union Station Toronto. Everything was intact for steam all the way down to Windsor, even on trackage rights thru to Bayview Jct connection and onto the TH&B.

Yes I do recall the Boston And Maine, the D&H and especially the Bessemer units. I kept listening for steam on the Milton Main Line, rumours were rampant.

The crossing at Campbellville is one of those that just screams steam, you would swear it’s coming any minute now. Jubilees, Hudsons, Pacific’s, good grief.

I just don’t think the CPR forgot how to do this in a very few scant years…or else why harbour such a backup ‘just in case’.

Hot water and steam cleaning allows fitters to work on moving parts etc. and, it looks nice!

9

I recall that Trains in 1964 reproduced a contemporary Canadian cartoon relating to the UP FAs in grain service in Canada. A couple were standing on a station platform, while a train led by the UP FA and FBs passed, and the man was saying to the woman “No it isn’t a direct train to Hollywood, just locomotives leased to haul the Russian grain…”

Owners of the DVD could confirm the issue…

Peter

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Amazing!.. Thanks for that Peter…good memory. So it did not go unnoticed.

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I am reading and learning about this case… If those 65 steam locomotives were well maintained and ready to run again anytime, all the facilities for steam engines operation were intact and functional, there was enough manpower to handle this special task, I do wish CPR would have used them for this saving-USSR’s-people mission.

But of course, if the operating cost was higher than renting the FAs and the management were not confident enough to make sure all the facilities and engines would still working well as the good old days, I can understand why they made such decision.[D][%-)]

Richard Leonard’s Rail Archive

12

Well yeah, you would think the CPR kept this strategic reserve put away in a condition that makes a comeback very easy and smooth. They were meticulous with steam and only the newest and latest shopped out and overhauled would make the reserve. Stored away properly. Memory being what it is I can somewhat attest that the steam infrastructure was very much intact for that very purpose, at least in Southern Ontario.

I think the new CPR management saw the whole strategic reserve as a costly error and they were too progressive to embrace what the previous management did, just because.

Makes you wonder what CNR’s response would be. Ridicule, snickering and put downs or flabbergasted at the huge positive wave that would have ensued.

However as NDG pointed out the GP30’s were soon on their way but surprisingly they only took 2. So that was no calvary.

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The ex-UP GE Dash-8’s CN is currently leasing fit your description exactly. Not to mention the ones they bought outright a few years ago.

We have one of the CP GP30’s at the Alberta Railway Museum, 5000 (nee 8200). Unfortunately it is near the bottom of the priority list, and I believe it’s engine is seized.

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Fascinating Dude- And from the UP to boot! Nothing new as it’s all been done before. Whaddyaknow eh ?

15

I have been thinking back, almost 60 years, now, and agree, CP COULD have reactivated steam IF THEY HAD TO, if no Diesels available, regardless of the expense.

They had put steam BACK ON the commuter trains in 1960 to release S/G Diesels for freight use, as the Infrastructure was still in place AND, THE STEAM ENGINES RETURNED to home base next morning for Roundhouse Servicing and Coaling.

At the far end the locomotives and trains were turned and supervised overnight by a Locomotive Watchman keeping the heat on in the trains.

It would have been possible to use Steam in areas where there was Infrastructure in place, esp water en route, and Montreal and Toronto would have much of that left.

Canny Management wanted to cover their asses just in case Diesel power not available???

Yes, there would have been ’ a Window ’ for this to happen. How long the window was open??? Maybe sometime 1962??

Tube Time would run out?? but could be extended??

I was IN the Roundhouse @ St Luc, to warm up - 20 F in Feb 1962, and there were still 10-12 steam engines inside, nice and warm. 50 or so outside, doomed.

Photos somewhere of Moi FREEZING on footboards of R Hudson outside.

CP 5114 and 5145 were there, too. My Faves.

Older photo. CP 5114. had modern number box at end.

http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/CPR_Lam

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I wish it wasn’t the Challengers or Big Boys but a PRR S1 and some T1s. [:P] But Pennsy had plenty of K4s, J1s and M1s for the “Just in Case” situation until 1958.

I guess around the late-1950s, the whole transportation system of the States was comprehensive enough that Railroads didn’t need to keep a fleet of the steam engine for an emergency situation. Even steam engine in Canada, the UK and Europe retired gradually. I think the UK was the most “coal-burning power” friendly country at the moment, folks in the British keep bringing their steam locomotive back to their railway system. 20 years ago, I could never have imagined that UK folks re-streamlined a LMS Coronation Class and rebuilding a LNER Class P2!

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Terrific items NDG. Thanks for the memories. Great history.Glad you agree… you would know better than most, too bad it didn’t happen.

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Overmod states " And today we’d see railfan pilgrimages, likely from many sources that know or care little about Canadian steam, to see matched sets of FAs in service…"

Here we are:

United States

Monticello Railway Museum

6789 repainted in old paint scheme and restored to operation at Monticello Railway Museum, Monticello, Indiana.

Shown here at Streamliners at Spencer four day event May 29 - June 1, 2014 at North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, North Carolina where the former Southern Railroad 37-stall roundhouse hosted this gathering displaying more than two dozen covered wagons. 6789 was a star of the event being the only working Alco unit. Warren Mayhew

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic RR
Independence (Cleveland) Ohio

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I suspect, the ‘stragegic steam calvery’ existed for the situation where NO diesel power was available from any source to keep traffic moving. Just putting steam back in service would have required the army of men to bring the steam power back to life and and another army to maintain the power in operating condition.

Just on a guess - to bring 65 steam engines out of storage and keep them operating in revenue services would ‘probably’ have required at least 650 men in the various crafts that only had a purpose in working with steam engines.

I suspect, bringing in the UP leased power did not result in the employment of any more mechanical craft positions they already existed before the UP power was leased.

20

Well thanks a lot for the cold water on the warm and fuzzy feelings. Yeesh.

ok how about this… too bad Soviet Union, supply and demand, they pay… over millions of bushels it’s not so bad.

The Rooskis pay, railfans play.