July 1936 Centenary celebrations on the Central Vermont

[Miningman]

Canadian National Railways 

Canadian Railway Centenary 

July 1936 

Ticket prices 1.50 and 2.00 round trip! Plus a parade, military displays, band concerts and fireworks. 

News Story Montreal Gazette Friday, July 17, 1936. 

Brand new U-4 6400 backing into Bonaventure station for special train for Canadian Railway Centenary. July 1936.

Replica Dorchester

So now you know what was on that flatcar. 

 

[Miningman]

Dorchester 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Flintlock76]

I see they found the original head-end crew!  Cool!   

[Miningman]

Yeah, talk about a stiff upper lip. Humourless pair. 

From Mike : The big day

 

 

 St. John's station plaque .. don't see them like this anymore 

 

 

It 

[rcdrye]

A variation on the Stephenson "Planet" class, the Dorchester looks like the John Bull (with a straight firebox, not John B.'s Bury) and was probably set up as a 2-2-0.  At least one source says that the Champlain & St. Lawrence opened with 6" pine "rails" which were strap rail with iron straps on top.  The Chambly Canal  begins at St Jean-sur Richelieu (today's St. John) to allow boats to pass from Lake Champlain the St. Lawrence.

[Jones1945]

Thank you, Mike and Miningman. 

"...In spite of its fame, the Dorchester remains a mystery: no plans were ever found. Creative souls attempting to reconstruct it have produced models, sketches, plans and drawings. Amongst the many submitted hypotheses, which is correct?"

http://www.trha.ca/trha/royal-canadian-mint-commemorates-canadas-first-railway/

[Miningman]

Thanks Jones... don't think I knew that. Amazing really. 

[Jones1945]

You are welcome, Vince. I guess the boiler and the firebox of the Dorchester were rebuilt on different frames for different reasons. 

 Further reading:

http://progress-is-fine.blogspot.com/2013/04/first-steam-locomotive-in-canada.html

[Overmod]

Samson only two years younger

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samson_(locomotive)

http://www.parl.ns.ca/samson/index.htm