Canadian Pacific 1201

Canadian Pacific 1201
Canadian Pacific No. 1201 taking part in the Steam Expo locomotive parade at the 1986 World Exposition.
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Canadian Pacific Railway Angus Shops Serial number 2074 Build date June 1944
Specifications Configuration: ​  •  Whyte 4-6-2  •  UIC 2′C1′ h2 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Leading dia. 33 in (840 mm) Driver dia. 70 in (1,780 mm) Trailing dia. 45 in (1,140 mm) Wheelbase: ​  • Drivers 15 ft (4.6 m) Length 76 ft 4+1⁄8 in (23.270 m) Height 14 ft 10 in (4.52 m) Axle load 50,333 lb (22.831 t) Adhesive weight 151,000 lb (68 t) Loco weight 229,500 lb (104.1 t) Tender weight 191,000 lb (87 t) Total weight 420,500 lb (190.7 t) Fuel type New: Coal Now: Oil Fuel capacity 28,000 lb (13 t) Water cap. 11,529 US gal (43,640 L; 9,600 imp gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 45.6 sq ft (4.24 m2) Boiler pressure 250 psi (1.7 MPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 199 sq ft (18.5 m2)  • Total surface 3,320 sq ft (308 m2) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 744 sq ft (69.1 m2) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 20 in × 28 in (510 mm × 710 mm) Valve gear Walschaerts
Performance figures Tractive effort 34,000 lbf (150 kN) Factor of adh. 4.44
Career Operators Canadian Pacific Railway Class G5a Number in class 2 of 2 Numbers CPR 1201 Retired April 16, 1960 (revenue service) October 1990 (excursion service) Preserved 1966 Restored June 6, 1976 Current owner Canada Science and Technology Museum Disposition Stored out of view
Reference: [1]

Canadian Pacific 1201 is a G5a class 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotive, built in 1944 by the Canadian Pacific Railway's (CP) Angus shops in Montreal, Quebec. It is preserved at the Canada Science and Technology Museum (NMST).

History

No. 1201 was built in June 1944 by the Canadian Pacific Railway's (CP) Angus shops, it was also the very last steam locomotive built by the CP shops. ^{[2] [3]} No. 1201 was used to pull passenger trains across Ontario and Quebec until being retired from revenue service on April 16, 1960. ^[4] After the Canadian Pacific removed the locomotive from service, the railway put the No. 1201 in storage at the Angus shops yard, and it was donated to the Canada Science and Technology Museum (NMST) six years later in 1966. ^{[2] [4]}

In May 1973, No. 1201 was selected to be restored to operating condition to run excursions for the Bytown Railway Society (BRS) over the Gatineau Valley line. ^[5] It was moved into the CP's John Street roundhouse on June 1, 1973 were restoration officially began by the Ontario Rail Association, during the restoration progress, it would also be converted from coal to oil. ^{[1] [4]} No. 1201's restoration was completed on June 6, 1976 and moved again under its own power for the first time in sixteen years, doubleheading with Canadian Pacific FP7A No. 4038 on a return trip to Ottawa. ^[4]

Throughout 1976 and 1985, No. 1201 hauled various passenger excursion trains for the NMST each year, assigned by the Bytown Railway Society. ^[4] It also hauled a special excursion train to transport Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip from Ottawa West through Wakefield on October 16, 1977. ^[4]

In the fall of 1985, No. 1201 traveled to British, Columbia to participate in the Last Spike Centennial Ceramony on November 7, 1985. ^[4]

In 1985 and 1986, No. 1201 sat into storage in New Westminster until May 1986, when it traveled to Vancouver, British Columbia to participate in a ten day Steam Exposition event as part of the Expo 86. ^{[4] [6] [7]} In July 1986, it returned home in Ottawa, Canada and was placed in storage for an uncertain future. ^[4]

Throughout 1987 and 1990, the Bytown Railway Society operated the No. 1201 on excursion trips to Pembroke, Hawkesburry and Brockville as well as a two-hour roundtrip between Ottawa and Hull. ^[4]

In June 1989, the engine traveled to St John, Nebraska to participate in the ceremony of the inauguration of CP's short line between Montreal and Saint John. ^[4]

On October 14, 1990, No. 1201 operated in its final excursion run from Ottawa to Hawksbury and return, it was returned to the Canada Science and Technology Museum and moved into a warehouse for storage. ^[4] As of 2023 ^[update] , No. 1201 is stored out of service at the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa. ^[4] It is the oldest survivor of the Canadian Pacific's G5 class locomotives, and the last remaining locomotive of two prototypes of the class to be preserved. ^{[1] [8]}

Surviving sister engines

• No. 1238 is in storage at the Prairie Dog Central Railway in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
• No. 1246 is in storage at the Railroad Museum of New England in Thomaston, Connecticut, United States.
• No. 1278 is on static display at the Age of Steam Roundhouse in Sugarcreek, Ohio, United States.
• No. 1286 is in storage at the Prairie Dog Central Railway in Winnipeg.
• No. 1293 is on display at the Age of Steam Roundhouse in Sugarcreek, waiting for a rebuild.

See also

• Canadian Pacific 2317
• Canadian Pacific 2816
• Canadian National 6060
• Canadian Pacific Railway § Steam locomotives

References

1. "Canadian Railway Observations – Canadian Railway History". canadianrailwayobservations.com. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
2. "Canadian Rail" (PDF). Canadian News. March-April 1986 (391): 10. March–April 1986.
3. "Canadian Rail" (PDF). Canadian Rail. April 1968 (198): 22. April 1968.
4. "Branchline" (PDF). Branchline: 4. September 2001.
5. "Canadian Rail" (PDF). Canadian Rail. April 1968 (260): 27. September 1973.
6. "WCRA News 2021" (PDF). WCRA News: 3. April 12, 2021.
7. "Canadian Rail" (PDF). Canadian Rail: 14. April 2019.
8. "Old Time Trains". www.trainweb.org. Retrieved 2022-07-11.

Further reading

• Railroad Magazine . Vol. 100–101. 1976. p. 40.
• Railroadman's Magazine. Vol. 104–105. 1978. p. 19.
• Bill Yenne (1986). The History of North American Railroads. BisonBooks. p. 142. ISBN   978-0861242726.
• Railfan & Railroad . Vol. 18. Carstens Publications. 1999. p. 52.
• Railfan & Railroad . Vol. 18. Carstens Publications. 2004. p. 12.