Railroad Story - January 2009 - A Window in Thrums

[AgentKid]

Congratulations to Steven Duff on a wonderful story. I didn't recognize the literary references but man, you had me at "what CPR admirers would remember as "The Look"". Watching those old trains, or even seeing pictures of them, I would see at least one name that would give me the "yondering" too.

I was amazed to find out only recently that CPR passenger cars never had a number, only a name, and that includes the Stainless Steel Budd coaches, until the 2816 Train and the Royal Canadian Pacific Train Tours started around 2000. In a pre-computerized era EVERY detail about a car's movements or maintenance would have been recorded by hand or typewritten by name. Like I say, having worked as an accountant, that they did that from 1881 until VIA was formed just amazes me.

In the name of accuracy however, I will point out that the only revenue earning passenger carrying equipment that did have a number, not a name, were combines. The mysterious head end equipment mentioned by Mr. Duff along with baggage and Royal Mail carrying cars also had numbers, along with the business car fleet.

This story was one of the nicest things I've read in a long time.

AgentKid