Pierre, the intigues and various machinations that surrounded
the '3 amigos'(Smith, Hill and Stephen) and their activities
with the CPR, Great Northern (Manitoba Road), Northern Pacific,
CB&Q and Soo LIne is a fascinating tale. I heartily recommend
you take the time to read Smith's and Hill's biographies.
Rainer Auer
Saskatoon, SK
--- In cpsig@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "soomodels" <soomodels@...> wrote:
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
