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----- Original Message -----
From: Donald Scott (by way of PBowers <57era@xxxxxxxx>)
To: AtlanticRails@xxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: December 2, 2000 8:12 PM
Subject: [AtlanticRails] B#-257-5 Canadian Pacific Passenger
Trains-Montreal-Maine-Saint John-Halifax
Continued:
Part # 5
Former Canadian Pacific Railway Passenger Services-Montreal-via State of
Maine-Saint John-Halifax
Remarks: Symbol * Denotes CPR Steam in Tuscan Red-Grey-Black-Gold Paint
Scheme.
The 1950's:
During the Fall of 1954 CPR commenced receiving some of their new
stainless-steel passenger cars(an order of about 176 cars of different
types). CPR Montreal-Saint John passenger trains 39, 40, 41 and 42-the
latter two trains the "Atlantic Limited" both had 4-8-4 "Northerns" *3100
and *3101 being assisned on the 175 mile Montreal-Megantic sector, with the
semi-streamlined heavy G-3 Class 4-6-2's of the *2390 series and the *2400
series handling these trains Megantic-McAdam-Saint John, N.B. These trains
for a period had the new "Park" series Scenic-Dome Observation-Lounge-Club
sleepers on the back plus the new stainless-steel "Chateau" series
Duplex-Roomette and "Manor" series sleepers. Three cars; they were assigned
by CPR Public Relations and on display at Union Station at Saint John. The
first "Park" series was the "Tweedsmuir Park" while on layover in which I
had the opportunity to go through in the former coach yards at the east end
of Saint John.
Later CPR assigned the odd new stainless-steel sleeper on the Maritime
runs, and by 1955 with a few 100 series stainless-steel "Deluxe" coaches,
"Manor" and the odd "Chateau" series Duplex-Roomette sleepers. The
"Atlantic Limited" trains 41 and 42 for a number of runs Montreal-Saint
John saw new Fairbanks-Morse 2400hp "Trainmaster" 8900. By the latter part
of 1954 CPR assigned their MLW/Alco FPA-2's of the 4000 series and FB-2
4463-4464 to the "Atlantic Limited" and later MLW/Alco RS-10's of the 8400
series, later the 8500's. Trains # 39 and #40 on the Montreal-Maritimes run
continued with steam.
Almost omitted the "Lake" series heavy-weight rebuilt
buffet-parlor-compartment-bedroom sleepers that were assigned to the
Montreal-Saint John service arriving about 1950 out of Montreal's Angus
Shops-"Lake Huron", "Lake Annis", "Lake Erie" and "Lake Winnipeg" and the
"Lake O'Hara"-all very distinctive looking cars equipped with Comonwealth
trucks.
Trains 41 and 42 Dining cars ran Saint John-Mattawamkeag, Maine and back to
Saint John. Trains 39 had either a buffet-parlor or Cafe-Parlor added at
Sherbrooke, Quebec early in the morning westbound and dropped of at
Sherbrooke on the eastbound Train #
42 of the "Atlantic Limited".
In the Fall of 1955-the change of timetable the end of October-CPR
discontinued trains 39 and 40 to and from Saint John from Montreal-but
these trains continued to operate Montreal-Megantic-streamlined head-ends,
2200 series streamlined "Deluxe" coaches, parlor car, and buffet-parlor, or
Cafe-Parlor.
The "Atlantic Limited" schedule was changed eastbound and westbound on
trains 41 and 42 and the "Princess Helene" Saint John-Digby, Nova Scotia
schedule was changed. Train #42 on the new schedule arrived Saint John
about 0930 with the CP Bay of Fundy service for Digby out at 1030.
Westbound train # 41 departed about 2100 after the arrival of the service
from Digby at 2000. The "Gull" from Boston and westbound to Boston also
connected with the Bay of Fundy service. DAR also made changes system-wide
to their schedules to co-incide with the Bay of Fundy service, "Atlantic
Limited" and "Gull" schedules. Diesel power officially took over the
Montreal-Saint John passenger service-operating with streamlined
light-weight 85 foot express cars, baggage, and Postal Car; New 100 series
"Deluxe" coaches mixed in with streamlined light-weight "Deluxe" coaches,
heavy-weight dining car, heavy-weight sleepers, streamlined light-weight
"Grove" series Roomette sleeper, new stainless-steel "Chateau" series
Duplex-Roomette sleeper, and the new stainless-steel "Manor" series
sleepers; plus a heavy-weight rebuilt "Lake" series Buffet-Parlor sleeper.
The only semi-streamlined heavy 4-6-2 to remain east of Megantic was *2397
operating McAdam-Saint John in freight service and protection power for the
"Atlantic Limited"
By 1956, Canadian Pacific Steamships placed their new 25,500 ton "Empress
of Britain"(3rd) into Trans-Atlantic passenger
service-Liverpool-Quebec-Montreal and made West Saint John, N.B. its Winter
months turnaround with CPR "Empress" liner specials westbound and eastbound
to and from Montreal-plus a special mail-express train. The "Empress of
Australia"(2nd was sold), a new sister ship of the "Britain" went into
service in 1957 the 25,500 ton "Empress of England". The "Empress of
France"(2nd) of 20,000 tons also made Saint John its turnaround during the
Winter. The 26,500 3 funnel "Empress of Scotland" never made calls at Saint
John and was assigned to New York-West Indies-South America cruises or
doing the same cruising but from UK ports. The Empress of Britian and
Empress of England later commenced cruising either out of New York to the
Carribean, or from UK to South Africa, or UK-South Africa-South
America-Carribean and back to the UK. The "Empress of France"(2nd was
retired after 1960, as the new 27,300 ton "Empress of Canada"(3rd) was to
make her debut on the Trans-Atlantic run-New York-West Indies-South America
cruises-plus an annual 61 day New York-Mediterranean-New York cruise.
During the fall of 1959 the "Atlantic Limited" was made an all
stainless-steel train with the exception of the streamlined light-weight
express, Postal car. Stainless-steel equipment" 3000 series stainless-steel
baggage-dormitory car, two to three 100 series "Deluxe" coaches, "Skyline"
500 series Scenic-Dome car(part parlor-Dinette), stainless-steel Dining
Room car, "Chateau" series stainless-steel "Duplex-Roomette" sleepers,
stainless-steel "Manor" series sleepers, "Park" series end-car
stainless-steel Observation-Club-Loung sleeper. The "Drumhead" lit up at
night looking very distinctive-with "Beaver & Shield" logo and letters
"Atlantic Limited".
Back information from the second World War-Montreal-Saint John passenger
trains 39 and 40 at times were known to run in eight(8) sections.
To Be Continued.
Don Scott-Coquitlam, B.C.
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