CN U-1-a and U-1-b
Encyclopedia
The CN U-1-a and U-1-b class locomotives were two subclasses of thirty-seven 4-8-2 Mountain-type
steam locomotives built for the Canadian National Railway
s between 1923 and 1924. They were retired between 1951 and 1962.
The locomotives were equipped with steam heating and air signal lines for working passenger trains. They were coal fired, although some U-1-a locomotives were later converted to oil firing.
, British Columbia, in November 1950. It was scrapped in June 1951 (as was the 3538). There was a gap of four years before the next U-1-a or U-1-b went: two were scrapped in 1955, four in 1957, six in 1958, six in 1959, eight in 1960, seven in 1961, and the last two, 6000 and 6001 in 1962.
4-8-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-8-2 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...
steam locomotives built for the Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
s between 1923 and 1924. They were retired between 1951 and 1962.
Construction history
| Year | Subclass | Quantity | Manufacturer !! Serial nos. !! CN Nos. !! Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1923 | U-1-a | 16 | Canadian Locomotive Company Canadian Locomotive Company The Canadian Locomotive Company, commonly referred to as CLC, was a Canadian manufacturer of railway locomotives located in Kingston, Ontario. Its works were located on Ontario Street and Gore Street on Kingston's waterfront.... |
1696–1711 | 6000–6015 | |
| 1924 | U-1-b | 21 | Canadian Locomotive Company Canadian Locomotive Company The Canadian Locomotive Company, commonly referred to as CLC, was a Canadian manufacturer of railway locomotives located in Kingston, Ontario. Its works were located on Ontario Street and Gore Street on Kingston's waterfront.... |
1744–1758, 1764–1769 | 6016–6036 | |
The locomotives were equipped with steam heating and air signal lines for working passenger trains. They were coal fired, although some U-1-a locomotives were later converted to oil firing.
Retirement
The first to be retired was 6004, which was severely damaged a head-on collision with S-2-a 3538 at Canoe RiverCanoe River train crash
The Canoe River train crash occurred on November 21, 1950, near Valemount in eastern British Columbia, Canada, when a westbound troop train and the eastbound Canadian National Railway Continental Limited collided head-on...
, British Columbia, in November 1950. It was scrapped in June 1951 (as was the 3538). There was a gap of four years before the next U-1-a or U-1-b went: two were scrapped in 1955, four in 1957, six in 1958, six in 1959, eight in 1960, seven in 1961, and the last two, 6000 and 6001 in 1962.
In art
U-1-a 6004 was the subject of a 1924 publicity poster by C. Norwich. It depicts the locomotive speeding along in the foreground, while in the background is a pine-covered, snow-capped mountain peak. Across the top is the "Canadian National Railways" logotype; across the bottom are the words, "Across Canada", and in the lower left, above the artist name and date is "The Continental Limited in the Canadian Rockies"Preservation
One locomotives has been preserved:- CN 6015 (U-1-a) — Retired 1960; to CHRA, Delson Quebec. On public display in Jasper, Alberta, since July 1972.