I've seen pictures of CN rolling stock with the word spelled both ways....? Is this an English thing like THEATER, THEATRE? Or did someone grab the wrong stencil?
Scroll a ways down to see two gray CN hoppers with both spellings:
http://railroadstrains.blogspot.com/2013_08_01_archive.html
Andy
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Milwaukee native modeling the Milwaukee Road in 1950's Milwaukee.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/196857529@N03/
I've noticed that too. I have a rolling stock Canadian car that has Canadian on one side and Canadien on the other somewhere in my stacks of cars.
I think I remember hearing Canadien is the French version. Perhaps transpired from Quebec. I'm not 100% positive if that's true or the reasoning behind it, that both spellings are put on some cars but I like the Canadian spelling better, unless I'm eating french fries
TF
Track fiddler I think I remember hearing Canadien is the French version. Perhaps transpired from Quebec. I'm not 100% positive if that's true or the reasoning behind it, that both spellings are put on some cars but I like the Canadian spelling better. TF
I think I remember hearing Canadien is the French version. Perhaps transpired from Quebec. I'm not 100% positive if that's true or the reasoning behind it, that both spellings are put on some cars but I like the Canadian spelling better.
Track fiddler I've noticed that too. I have a rolling stock Canadian car that has Canadian on one side and Canadien on the other somewhere in my stacks of cars. I think I remember hearing Canadien is the French version. Perhaps transpired from Quebec. I'm not 100% positive if that's true or the reasoning behind it, that both spellings are put on some cars but I like the Canadian spelling better, unless I'm eating french fries TF
MARTIN STATION I hope you're putting gravy on those fries!
Yes, but of course! Also with some melted trailer cheese and some chili the more the merrier as I always say
I am planning to visit Martin Station Wilderness Road State Park in Ewing, Virginia one of these days on my bucket list. When I ever get down there to Virginia, I would also like to visit the old abandoned mining town of Sewell, Mann's Creek Railroad. A dream of mine, I have a lot of interest in that one
My Grandfather who I loved dearly was a Canadian. The memories of him, I still do. He was a Scotch Canadian so he spelled it Canadian eh
Track fiddlerI think I remember hearing Canadien is the French version. Perhaps transpired from Quebec. I'm not 100% positive if that's true or the reasoning behind it, that both spellings are put on some cars
Canada has two official languages, English and French. All official documents like tax returns, government notices, etc. are required to be in both languages. Because Canadian National is (or at least was up until recently) owned by the Canadian governement, that included it's freight cars. Beginning around 1980 cars had the railroad name spelled out in English "CANADIAN NATIONAL" on one side and French "CANADIEN NATIONAL" on the other side. Canadian Pacific was/is a private company, so was not required to do that.
wjstix Canada has two official languages, English and French. All official documents like tax returns, government notices, etc. are required to be in both languages. Because Canadian National is (or at least was up until recently) owned by the Canadian governement, that included it's freight cars. Beginning around 1980 cars had the railroad name spelled out in English "CANADIAN NATIONAL" on one side and French "CANADIEN NATIONAL" on the other side. Canadian Pacific was/is a private company, so was not required to do that.
First of all, it was around 1960, not 1980 (new logo was officially introduced in 1961).
It had nothing to do with government regulations as far as I know, but part of the idea within the redesign of the modern CN logo was that using only the letters "CN" and not "CNR" like the previous logo made it work in both languages. And cars had the English name applied to one side, and the French version on the other.
Not government requirement, just company policy/design decision with the new branding. Plus CN's headquarters were in Montreal, Quebec which might also influence that.
BTW, VIA Rail was and still is a "crown" corporation as well, and that's not exactly bilingual either.
Also BTW, slightly off topic, but you mentioned it... for tax time you indicate which language you want to use in your correspondence. These days I do it on the computer, but when I did my tax forms on paper, the forms were in English only. They're AVAILABLE in either official language, but you fill out an English or French version of the forms. Other government forms that aren't as complex might have a single version with both languages, but usually you just get either an English or French version of the document.
Chris van der Heide
My Algoma Central Railway Modeling Blog
Interesting Stix
As I knew a little part of it, I never knew all of it or the reason why? Now I do!
Thanks Stix I always like to learn something everyday.
Track fiddler Interesting Stix As I knew a little part of it, I never knew all of it or the reason why? Now I do!
Other than that "reason" being totally made up as far as I know...
The Canadian Official Languages Act does apply to the CN.
https://www.clo-ocol.gc.ca/en/language_rights/act
That would explain both spellings.
Simon
snjroy The Canadian Official Languages Act does apply to the CN. https://www.clo-ocol.gc.ca/en/language_rights/act That would explain both spellings. Simon
That doesn't really affect painting a name on one side of a boxcar as far as I can tell... it's about providing service to the public in either language. The link also indicates the first version of the act is from 1969, at least eight years *after* CN started this practice with their 1961 brand re-design...
Montreal's hockey team is the Canadiens for what that's worth.
The Milwaukee Road Warrior Is this an English thing like THEATER, THEATRE?
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
I was tought "Canadien" is the French way, "Canadian" is the American english way. That was under the precept of learning the language and had nothing to do with Railroads, private companys, or laws. Who knows if thats true, i was educated in America.
Either way, a French speaking person is gonna know your a tourist. Especially when you pronounce "Pere Marquette" as "Pierre Marquette".
I dont collect many CN models, very interesting to know there are two name spellings on one model. Never noticed it before.
-PMR
Which side of the car has "CANADIAN" ?
Which side of the car has "CANADIEN" ?
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
Lastspikemike DSchmitt Which side of the car has "CANADIAN" ? Which side of the car has "CANADIEN" ? De Hanglish would be to da right et le Francais a la gauche naturalement. Until le train reverser hand den de udder way roun
DSchmitt Which side of the car has "CANADIAN" ? Which side of the car has "CANADIEN" ?
De Hanglish would be to da right
et le Francais a la gauche
naturalement.
Until le train reverser hand den de udder way roun
PM Railfani was educated in America.
So was I, North America, the Canadian part, West Coast, North Vancouver to be exact.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Lastspikemike Quebecois is indeed old pre revolutionary French. My daughters speak it. The one who lives in the UK works frequently with the French (in France) and they assure her that her command of the language is excellent but "quaint" on account of learning the Canadian version of French. A bit like a modern Englishman conversing with a Shakespearean era Englishman perhaps. Les Canadiens de Montreal are commonly referred to as Les Habs...short for Les Habitants or "the peasants" .... out West they are referred to just as the Montreal Canadians, when we're feeling feisty. And just btw: Canadian is the Canadian spelling of Canadian, not the American spelling......
Quebecois is indeed old pre revolutionary French. My daughters speak it. The one who lives in the UK works frequently with the French (in France) and they assure her that her command of the language is excellent but "quaint" on account of learning the Canadian version of French. A bit like a modern Englishman conversing with a Shakespearean era Englishman perhaps.
Les Canadiens de Montreal are commonly referred to as Les Habs...short for Les Habitants or "the peasants" .... out West they are referred to just as the Montreal Canadians, when we're feeling feisty.
And just btw: Canadian is the Canadian spelling of Canadian, not the American spelling......
BATMAN PM Railfan i was educated in America. So was I, North America, the Canadian part, West Coast, North Vancouver to be exact.
PM Railfan i was educated in America.
details, details..... , wait, dont they call that the "great white north"???
The Frozen Chosen.
We like beer. Real beer.
"Northern Ontario", for example, is what Hog Town folks, AKA the Big Smoke, (okay, Toronto), call anything north of Peterborough. Those in Peterborough call Northern Ontario anything north of North Bay, or Thunder Bay. For example, New Liskeard, Timmins, Larder Lake, Swastika, Cobalt, Kenora, Lake Nippising, that's all northern Ontario. For people living up there, it's James Bay and Hudson Bay where it gets a little northerly.
selectorWe like beer. Real beer.
I was always fond of fast time freights, and how best to yard them on arrival. As it were.
Yup, a northern position is all relative, except of course if you live at the point refered to as the North Pole! No one is North of Santa... Up here in Canada, we distinguish the Near North or sub-arctic (which relates to boreal, mostly conifer, forest), and the Far North (arctic and Tundra).
Growing up in B.C. surrounded by friends and family that worked in the resource industries, "up North" meant North of the B.C./Yukon border, while the far North was always North of the Arctic Circle.
It is over 4000km from Vancouver to the most Northerly point in Canada, I remember working flights both civilian 737s and military C-130 Hercules at Vancouver that were coming and going to/from the far North, those crews were spent when they got back from that trip. The aircraft were filthy dirty from the dirt runways.
Brent, I took a few plane trips between Vancouver and Whitehorse as part of my contract work. The scenery is just outstanding!
LastspikemikeIn 2013 I drove back from Yellowknife right through the enormous forest fires raging at the time. They closed the highway after me. Fire right to the edge of the road in places. Nowhere to go but onwards, once we left Yellowknife there was no turning back and only one road onwards.
We had the same experience in 1995 on the road to Dawson City. We were the last ones through, and the fires were along both sides of the road.
York1 John
York1 Lastspikemike In 2013 I drove back from Yellowknife right through the enormous forest fires raging at the time. They closed the highway after me. Fire right to the edge of the road in places. Nowhere to go but onwards, once we left Yellowknife there was no turning back and only one road onwards. We had the same experience in 1995 on the road to Dawson City. We were the last ones through, and the fires were along both sides of the road.
Lastspikemike In 2013 I drove back from Yellowknife right through the enormous forest fires raging at the time. They closed the highway after me. Fire right to the edge of the road in places. Nowhere to go but onwards, once we left Yellowknife there was no turning back and only one road onwards.
Yikes. This sounds terrifying. Having flashbacks of watching the film Only the Brave....
The Milwaukee Road WarriorYikes. This sounds terrifying. Having flashbacks of watching the film Only the Brave....
Happily, we were able to get to Dawson City, and then on into Alaska.
Dawson City was the best part of our two week trip. It is worth the effort to get there.
Wife and I drove from Oshawa, quite close to Toronto, to Alaska in 2004 and 2007.
On the highway between Whitehorse and Dawson City they have signs telling you the last time each area you pass thru burned. Some places you could see trees that had been fire killed one hundred years before that were still standing.
Took the top of the world highway from Tok Alaska to Dawson City in 2007. Much of it had been burned in 2004, which was long enough for the fireweed to be blossoming for miles.