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Evolution of CN locos since 1950

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  • Member since
    March 2021
  • From: Quebec, Canada
  • 129 posts
Evolution of CN locos since 1950
Posted by ModelTrain on Wednesday, March 17, 2021 6:39 PM

Hi. 

I would like to know more about the evolution of CN locos since 1950. I am searching mostly pictures and not too technical stuff.

My goal is to create a N scale layout of southern Canada.

Tags: CN , Locos

Stef

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Guelph, Ontario
  • 4,819 posts
Posted by Ulrich on Thursday, March 18, 2021 10:40 AM

Canadian National Railways Diesel Locomotives, volumes 1 and 2, by Courtney, Holland, and Goslett, should answer all of your questions. These two volumes are very well written and contain many photographs.. just the ticket for someone who is modelling the CN in diesel. 

  • Member since
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  • From: Quebec, Canada
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Posted by ModelTrain on Saturday, March 20, 2021 4:18 AM

Ulrich

Canadian National Railways Diesel Locomotives, volumes 1 and 2, by Courtney, Holland, and Goslett, should answer all of your questions. These two volumes are very well written and contain many photographs.. just the ticket for someone who is modelling the CN in diesel.

Thanks for your suggestion but I am searching for websites which contains all that information. I want to create a model railroad layout and I need to know which CN locos were in the fifties, the sixties, the seventees ...

Stef

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • From: Burbank IL (near Clearing)
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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Saturday, March 20, 2021 10:02 AM

One factor that would be hard to ascertain would be CN steam locomotives still in service in the 1950's.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by Overmod on Saturday, March 20, 2021 11:26 AM

CSSHEGEWISCH
One factor that would be hard to ascertain would be CN steam locomotives still in service in the 1950's.

It is again demonstrated a true pity that Vince (miningman) was driven off the forum, as he had a deep interest in CN steam and could discuss how it was used through the '50s.  Reading back through his threads both here and in Classic Trains (and you will get them together with a 'community search' here) will tell much about the end years of steam on CN.

As I recall in very rough paraphrase, CN heavily used steam up to circa 1958, then had a massive retirement in just a couple of years or so, essentially complete by 1962.  The use on subsidiary GTW, most famously in Detroit commuter service, is likely parallel.

A secondary resource is here:

http://cnrha.ca/node/244

which contains the range of retirement dates by class.

 

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Posted by M636C on Sunday, March 21, 2021 12:19 AM

This is a good resource for images:

Old Time Trains (trainweb.org)

Go to Galleries and then Locomotives, then to CNR.

Looking at the last link to the drawings in the previous post, I'm always surprised at how similar the U-1f and K-5a are, given their different wheel sizes and arrangement. This was particularly so after the conical nose was removed from the U-1f class. 

Peter

  • Member since
    March 2021
  • From: Quebec, Canada
  • 129 posts
Posted by ModelTrain on Monday, March 22, 2021 6:44 AM

Hi guys. What I am searching exactly is a list of the CN diesel locos per decades with pictures showing what CN locos looked in the 50's, the 60's, the 70's ...

Stef

  • Member since
    June 2002
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Posted by daveklepper on Monday, March 22, 2021 9:14 AM

Rode GTW frequently in 1952.  All steam.  And CN too.  By 1966 saw no steam, only diesels.  What specific year do you wish to model?  The mix really started to change around 1954 and was different eqach year for at least a decade.  Also different by region.

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  • From: Quebec, Canada
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Posted by ModelTrain on Monday, March 22, 2021 1:17 PM

daveklepper

Rode GTW frequently in 1952.  All steam.  And CN too.  By 1966 saw no steam, only diesels.  What specific year do you wish to model?  The mix really started to change around 1954 and was different eqach year for at least a decade.  Also different by region.

I am not sure yet for the specific year. I would like to model the region around Montreal.

Stef

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Monday, March 22, 2021 1:39 PM

ModelTrain
I am not sure yet for the specific year. I would like to model the region around Montreal.

I'd use 1957-1958, to be safe.  Watch your PMs.

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