-----------------------------------------------------
Click here for Free Video!!
http://www.gohip.com/free_video/
----- Original Message -----
From: Donald Scott (by way of PBowers <57era@xxxxxxxx>)
To: AtlanticRails@xxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: December 2, 2000 7:57 PM
Subject: [AtlanticRails] B#-257-1 Canadian Pacific Passenger Trains
Montreal-Maine-Saint John-Halifax
Part # 1
Former Canadian Pacific Railway Passenger Services-Montreal-via State of
Maine-Saint John-Halifax.
Note: This Post could be in Three or More parts.
Going back to the late 1880's when CPR first came into Saint John, N.B.,
the company was interested extending their main-line east to Halifax; they
were looking at a route along New Brunswick's "Bay of Fundy Coast" coming
to a point around Hillsborough, N.B. that would have put the line in and
around Sackville, N.B.-Aulac-and into Nova Scotia and a route through
Parrsboro, N.S. via Truro and into Halifax. This idea was put on the
shelf-CP figured there would not be enough traffic to support the eastward
extentsion from Saint John, N.B. as the Intercolonial Railway already
served Halifax.
Later CPR extended Montreal-Saint John passenger service east to Halifax
via Sussex, Moncton, Truro, and Halifax with an arrangement with the
Intercolonial Railway. CPR introduced a new design passenger cars for this
service-and a name train "CPR Express" as it was called. CPR equipment went
right through to Halifax; the only thing not CP was the ICR motive power. A
Dining car eastbound on this train was added at Mattawamkeag, Maine and
being taken off at Sussex, N.B. and go back west on another "CPR Express".
Out of Halifax the CPR westbound for Montreal, a Dining car ran
Halifax-Sussex. At that time CP tried to obtain running rights for their
freight trains from Saint John-Halifax but was turned down by the ICR. This
particular train operated operated up into the early 1900's and terminated
at Saint John.
In later years around 1912 CPR had purchased the Dominion Atlantic Railway
in Nova Scotia to make the CPR passenger route "The Short Route to Nova
Scotia." This included the Saint John-Digby 49 mile passenger ferry route.
CPR passenger service from Montreal and return connected with CPR "Bay of
Fundy Streamships". At Digby, N.S. DAR passenger trains from Yarmouth
enroute to Halifax came right along ships side; the same for westbound
passenger service from Halifax via Digby enroute to Yarmouth.
Canadian Pacific Ocean Servces-later in the 1920's changed to Canadian
Pacific Steamships-CP ocean liners called at Halifax; but West St. John,
N.B. was the main winter port for both its Trans-Atlantic Liners and
cargo-express ships. CP commenced Trans-Atlantic service in
1903(Trans-Pacific goes back to 1885-1886-1887 for its Liners to and from
the Orient from Vancouver, B.C.)
CPR "Boat Trains" operated to and from Saint John from Montreal and the
West, as well as Halifax, later to be hauled Halifax-Saint John by the
former CGR(Canadian Government Railway-and from 1923 by CNR) During the
First World War CPR troop trains were a common sight in and out of
Halifax-coming off the CP at Saint John and the other road doing the
haulage to Halifax.
CPR Montreal-Saint John Passenger Service Late 1920's Onward:
Durin the late 1920's light 4-6-2's of the 2500 and 2600's were the main
passenger power, although CPR was very unique building a number of 2-8-2
"Mikados" for passenger service the 5000's later renumbered into the
5100's, and could be found on passenger trains east of Montreal. As time
went by the heavy 4-6-2's of the 2300's were assigned on Montreal-Saint
John passenger trains, but only on the 175 mile run Montreal-Megantic,
Quebec. The light 4-6-2's of 2500 and 2600's took over, with power changes
at Brownville, Jct. Maine, and McAdam, N.B.
In later years 4-8-2's "Mountain Type" locomotives 2900 and 2901 were
transferred from Quebec and Ontario lines to the Maritimes, assigned to
Montreal-Saint John passenger trains # 39, # 40, # 41, and #42(Trains 41
and 42) being the "Atlantic Limited". These two sister 4-8-2s 2900 and 2901
held down the Saint John-McAdam, N.B. sector of the Montreal service. CPR's
light 4-6-2's of the 2500 and 2600's were snappy locomotives and great
pulling power for their size, but did the job well.
In those days all passenger equipment was the heavy-weights-out of McAdam,
N.B. up until the end of steam westbound passenger trains to Montreal and
Boston all were assisted by a pusher out of town, and the same applies to
out of Union Station at Saint John.
When World War # 2 broke out in 1939-CPR's Main-Line through the State of
Maine, was known as the busiest single track line in North America.
During the Second World War CPR was busy rebuilding and upgrading its
motive power as well as ordering new steam locomotives, rebuilding
passenger equipment, as well as taking delivery of new 2100 series "Deluxe"
coaches, new 85 foot streamlined baggage, express, Postal-express cars(very
European looking).
New semi-streamlined heavy 4-6-2's of the 2300 and 2400s were being
delivered to CPR, as well as the new semi-streamlined 5400's 2-8-2
"Mikados" for freight service and later a number assigned to passenger
service in the West and after the War on Montreal-West St. John Canadian
Pacific "Empress" liner boat trains.
Montreal-Saint John passenger trains 39, 40, 41, 42 were assigned the new
semi-streamlined heavy 4-6-2's-at first *2394, *2395, *2396, *2397,
*2402-but only running at first Montreal-Megantic and return replacing
non-semi-streamlined heavy 4-6-2's of the 2300 series. By 1943-1944 the
semi-streamlined 2300's and 2402 had their runs extended to MCAdam, N.B.
Remarks" Symbol * Denotes power in tuscan red and grey paint scheme like
the older 4-6-2 2300's
Next-More New Heavy 4-6-2's of the 2450 2460 series arrive in Maritimes on
passenger service-plus sample of passenger equipment.
To Be Continued.
Don Scott-Coquitlam, B.C.
eGroups Sponsor
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
AtlanticRails-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxx
