Canadian Pacific 1201

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Canadian Pacific 1201
Canadian Pacific No. 1201 in the Steam Expo locomotive parade at Expo 86.
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderCanadian Pacific Railway Angus Shops
Serial number2074
Build dateJune 1944
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-6-2
 • UIC2′C1′ h2
Gauge4 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:​
 • Drivers15 ft (4.6 m)
Length76 ft 4+1⁄8 in (23.270 m)
Height14 ft 10 in (4.52 m)
Axle load50,333 lb (22.831 t)
Adhesive weight151,000 lb (68 t)
Loco weight229,500 lb (104.1 t)
Tender weight191,000 lb (87 t)
Total weight420,500 lb (190.7 t)
Fuel type
Fuel capacity28,000 lb (13 t)
Water cap.11,529 US gal (43,640 L; 9,600 imp gal)
Firebox:​
 • Grate area45.6 sq ft (4.24 m2)
Boiler pressure250 psi (1.7 MPa)
Heating surface:​
 • Firebox199 sq ft (18.5 m2)
 • Total surface3,320 sq ft (308 m2)
Superheater:
​
 • Heating area744 sq ft (69.1 m2)
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size20 in × 28 in (510 mm × 710 mm)
Valve gearWalschaerts
Valve typePiston valves
Loco brakeAir
Train brakesAir
CouplersKnuckle
Performance figures
Tractive effort34,000 lbf (150 kN)
Factor of adh.4.44
Career
OperatorsCanadian Pacific Railway
ClassG5a
Number in class2 of 2
NumbersCPR 1201
Retired
  • April 16, 1960 (revenue service)
  • October 1990 (excursion service)
Preserved1966
RestoredJune 6, 1976
Current ownerCanada Science and Technology Museum
DispositionOn static display
References:[1][2][3]

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.[2][3][4] It was also the very last steam locomotive built by the CP shops.[2][5][6] No. 1201 was used to pull passenger trains across Ontario and Quebec until being retired from revenue service on April 16, 1960.[7] After the Canadian Pacific removed the locomotive from service, the railway put 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][7][3]

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.[8] It was moved into CP's John Street Roundhouse on June 1, 1973, where restoration officially began by the Ontario Rail Association. During the restoration progress, it was also converted from coal to oil.[7] 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.[7]

Throughout 1976 and 1985, No. 1201 hauled various passenger excursion trains for the NMST each year, assigned by the Bytown Railway Society.[7] It also hauled a special excursion train to transport Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip from Ottawa West through Wakefield on October 16, 1977.[7]

On November 7, 1985, No. 1201 travelled to British Columbia to participate in the 100th anniversary of the Last Spike.[7][3]

In 1985 and 1986, No. 1201 sat in storage in New Westminster until May 1986, when it travelled to Vancouver, British Columbia, to participate in a ten-day Steam Exposition event as part of Expo 86.[7][9][10][6][11][3][12] In July 1986, it returned home to Ottawa and was placed in storage for an uncertain future.[7][13][8]

Throughout 1987 and 1990, the Bytown Railway Society operated No. 1201 on excursion trips to Pembroke, Hawkesburry and Brockville as well as a two-hour roundtrip between Ottawa and Hull.[7]

In June 1989, the engine travelled to Saint John, New Brunswick, to participate in the ceremony of the inauguration of CP's short line between Montreal and Saint John, the Canadian Atlantic Railway.[7]

On September 16, 1990, it hauled the Thousand Islander special to Brockville for the 130th anniversary celebration of the completion of the Brockville Tunnel.[14] On October 14, No. 1201 operated in its final excursion run from Ottawa to Hawksbury and return.[7] It was returned to the Canada Science and Technology Museum and moved into a warehouse for storage.[7] As of 2026, No. 1201 is on static display at the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa.[7]

See also

References

  1. "Canadian Pacific Railway Company" (PDF). CP Tracks. January 1, 1952. p. 5. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
  2. "Last Spike Centennial November 7, 1885 to November 7, 1985" (PDF). Canadian Rail. March-April 1986 (391): 10-19. March–April 1986.
  3. "The Ingenium Centre - Locomotive Move Media Guide" (PDF). Ingenium. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  4. "Canadian Pacific Railway 4-6-2 Locomotive Number 1293" (PDF). NPS History. p. 245. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  5. "Where to Find 'Em in 1968" (PDF). Canadian Rail. April 1968 (198): 22. April 1968.
  6. "The Business Car" (PDF). Canadian Rail (395): 28. November–December 1986.
  7. "25 Years Ago - 1201 returns to service" (PDF). Branchline: 4. September 2001.
  8. "Waybills" (PDF). Canadian Rail. 268: 27. September 1973.
  9. "WCRA News 2021" (PDF). WCRA News: 3. April 12, 2021.
  10. "Canadian Rail" (PDF). Canadian Rail: 14. April 2019.
  11. "May 2021 Marks the 35th Anniversary of 'Steam Expo' Held During Expo 86" (PDF). April–May 2021. p. 3. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
  12. "Information Line" (PDF). Bytown Railway Society. May 1986. p. 10. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  13. "Book Reviews" (PDF). Canadian Rail (290): 19. June 1995. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  14. "The Thousand Islander" (PDF). Branchline: 6. November 1990.

Further reading