Fall Classic Trains Mag 1944 Steams last great year

[Miningman]

Very nice pictorial essay. Stunning how short lived these fine locomotives were, for example the Lehigh & Hudson River 4-8-2's were sold for scrap in April 1951. This seems to be a common fate for many of the class of '44. There are exceptions of course, the Nickel Plate Berkshires being a good example and of course we lucky Canadians where almost the entire class of '44 made it to at least 1959 and many were preserved. 

So the window in time that allowed one to see these magnificient machines in their actual working environs was pretty small. 

A bit more fortunate for us North of the border. A good 15 years gave us that admired them as kids a chance to grow up with them. Thanks to Classic Trains for the 4 pages dedicated to Canadian steam, class of '44. 

The order from the CPR, post war, for 600 G5 light Pacifics was cancelled but only after 102 were actually built. Interesting that the CNR had ordered 300 Prairies ( of all things) for their branch line service but none were built, the order cancelled and the invaders who shall not be named, arrived. 

[Flintlock76]

I got the issue myself a few days ago and it's another home run!  Almost makes me wish "CT" came out more than four times a year, but why mess with success.

I think  some of those L&HR 4-8-2's may have been sold to other railroads but I'm not sure on that, I'll have to check the archives.

OK, I checked, and those three L&HR Mountains were definately scrapped.  (Only six years old, what a waste!)  Looks like I confused the L&HR with the Ontario and Western, who sold their 4-8-2's to the Savannah and Atlantic and the Bangor and Aroostock.  I guess by 1951 the L&HR couldn't find a buyer.

The L&HR is one of those lost Northeast 'roads that are missed to this day, at least by those who remember it.  A colorful class act, and very  railfan-friendly, the employees were more like a family than a business and very proud of their railroad.  They enjoyed "showing off," for lack of a better term, to all who were interested.

I found an interesting railfan 'site concerning the L&HR, and here it is.

http://lhr.railfan.net   Have fun, everyone!

[Fr.Al]

The link you provided sent me to another link which is about the O&W. When I read about Steamtown's reviving O&W 105, I thought for a brief moment a steamer had survived. I'm a bit disappointed, it's a 44 tonner. I'm sure it's something for O&W fans. Beggers cannot be choosers, as they say in Ireland!

[Flintlock76]

I know, it's a shame Father, but there's NO surviving O&W steamers.  The only survivng O&W locomotives are diesel switchers.  

[Penny Trains]

Miningman

A bit more fortunate for us North of the border.

Ya know, I've been thinking lately how many restored locomotives in Ohio, and Greater Cleveland in specific, ran on Canadian owned railroads (GTW, CN, CP) or in the case of diesels were built at MLW.  We've become a haven for Canadian railfans! 

[Miningman]

You bet Penny, lots of Canadian locomotives in the USA. As David P. Morgan used to say " the same but different".  Diesels mostly the same, steam had its own personality all across both nations so differences are normal, therefore doesn't matter. 

Make you a deal right here right now. Yoos guys give us back the Stanley Cup and we will give you back the basketball thingie trophy. 

Re: Class of '44

Here she is! The first G5 brand new at Angus Shops. April 1944 CPR/Bruce Chapman Collection

Note: 1200 and 1201 were the only G5's equipped with a Worthington Feedwater Heater. 

1200 assigned to Western Lines. Winnipeg July 22, 1951 Bruce Chapman Collection

1200 laying down a light plume of coal smoke on No. 56 with mostly headend traffic on its 368 mile 13 hour
Daily except Sunday run between Regina and Winnipeg. Due Souris, Man. 1.25 p.m. 6/22/1955
L.A.Stuckey/Bruce Chapman Collection

Extra 1200 East. A long freight train. Proof of the versatility of the G5 class, a so-called "light Pacific". 
Brandon 10/10/1947 L.A.Stuckey/Bruce Chapman Collection

Another long freight behind 1200 at Carberry, Manitoba. L.A.Stuckey/Joseph Testagrose Collection 

Two-year old 1201 taking water on the shop track at the Glen 9/02/1946 L B Chapman Collection 

G5a 1201 when it was just another G5. One of two prototypes built by Angus 6/1944. 
Montreal, September 1, 1951. Bud Laws Collection 

1201 hauled a number of special trains after the end of steam operations. 

Centennial of Driving of Last Spike at Craigellachie, BC, 
Turning on wye at Taft following event. November 7, 1985.

Business Car 76 was also present at the original event! 
Preserved at Heritage Park, Calgary.

1201 is stored, hidden from the public at the Canada Science & Technology Museum in Ottawa. 

Not Any More!!!... SD70Dude posted to Trains Forum:

 CBC article with a short video, and a few more choice photos from the album:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/moving-day-museum-trains-1.5224658

What could have been... 600 G5 Pacifics were ordered.. 102 built before order cancelled.

 

It was not to be. The Chief of Motive Power H.B.Bowen was a dedicated steam man. Had he been five years younger it is likely he would have continued buying the planned orders for another 500 G5's! Instead, he retired at the normal age of 65. 

Remember too, an up and coming official was N.R.Crump a dedicated diesel man. He wrote his university thesis on diesels! 

Now just in case anyone out there is thinking 'well this Crump guy was just a progressive and obviously knew Diesels were the future', well you can chew on this.. he was well known as a stickler. His secretaries would type out a memo with copies using carbon paper in the typewriter. He would hold them up to the light and if the two copies didn't match perfectly he would tear them up and have it retyped until perfection was obtained. No bloody way a steam guy would do that, they had a real railroad to run and didn't waste time on nonsense like that. Those G5's would have lasted 75 years no problem!  

---

 

[Flintlock76]

I just read the above to Lady Firestorm.

"Crump wasn't a perfectionist,"  she said, "He was just an @$$hole!"

She has no use for steam assassins either!  Don't get her started on Norfolk-Southern killing the steam program in 1994, the rage hasn't burned out yet!

But my oh my, weren't those Canadian "Pacifics" stunners?  I've always admired the Canadian knack of taking the best of British and American locomotive stylings and blending them so perfectly.