Hi
Dennis is right. I was looking for CPR "running trains" traveling south on Soo
Tracks, coming from and going to a Canadian destination.
In the 1990s, I've seen Soo Line diesels in Montreal numerous times especially
around the Port of Montreal. I wonder if the other way would have been possible
in the fifties and sixties (which is the period I model) I reckon he is also
right when he points that going "across FIVE crew districts and two motive
power districts on the Soo" would have made it virtually impossible during the
steam era.
If I recall right, was there not an 'Atlantic' passenger train from Montreal to
St-John NB travelling through Northern Maine from Sherbrooke, that would be a
great shortcut? I vaguely remember someone saying this to me.
I read a bit about the CPR history and at one point the Northern Michigan route
was favoured. I always tought that CPR involvment with the Soo was kinda
selfish , my feeling is that CPR kept Soo Line going for its own purpose
either to, as I proposed use the southern route as a shortcut or just to have
an alternate route should they have problems on their own main line. I also
figured that owning an american Railroad gave CP an entry to the US shipping
market.
CPR in the 1800s and early 1900s had enough of their own problems north of the
border just to keep afloat a troubled railroad.
Anyhow this discussion is getting interesting.
I am about to start drawing an HO layout with a border crossing interchange
between the two companies I was just hoping to be able to get the two railroads
on the same tracks....
Pierre
I think we have a problem with semantics here. I wouldn't doubt that CP
diverted TRAFFIC to the Soo at some point during WWII, but that's not the
same as "running trains." Running trains implies run through crews, or at
least run through power, which is, I think, what Pierre is looking for. The
full length of a detour south of Lake Superior would have been from Sault
Ste. Marie (leaving the CP mainline around Sudbury) to Noyes MN / Emerson MB,
across FIVE crew districts and two motive power districts on the Soo. I can't
say it never happened, but I've never heard of it, or seen any photo that
would support the fact that it happened.
The Soo wasn't particularly hard pressed for power during WWII; the purchase
of four 4-8-4 locomotives in 1938 had freed up at least that many Mikes or
Mountains, and the road was able to buy and rebuild twelve additional 2-8-2s
in 1941, on the eve of the US entry into the war.
I too would be interested in seeing any evidence of CP steam power on either
the Soo or South Shore.
Dennis
