After the CPR was completed in 1885 how did they manage to run trains across the country with such small engines as 4-4-0 No. 374? We're these engines switched out every 100 miles or so, or was one engine used for the entire trip?
Ulrich,
They managed as well as they could since 4-4-0's were the bulk of the locomotive fleet. That was OK when the competition was ox teams and stage coaches.
Yes they were changed out about every 100 miles or so. In the 1880's and later engines were assigned to a particular engineer. That worked tolerably well since the engine had to go to the house for service after each trip.
I claim no great knowledge of CPR motive power but suspect they got some 2-6-0 Moguls or 2-8-0 Consolidations for mountain freight service fairly quickly. A book on early CPR power would tell that tale, as would a 1900 or so rooster with Tractive Effort built dates. You can safely assume that the engines with the highest Tractive Effort were assigned between Revelstoke and Calgary.
Mac
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