As the Depression wound down in the late 1930's and the economy started to improve, Canadian Pacific began ordering new boxcars to fill customer demands. These new cars were all steel construction built to the new standard inside height of 10'-6" and came equipped with 6'-0'wide steel doors. Older cars already in the fleet had an inside height of 8'-7" (built in 1927 to 1930) and 9'-4" (built in 1936). Our car was built in an order of 500 cars built by National Steel Car Co. in 1937 under order #2996. The car was given #227996 and placed in the general car pool.
The cars saw heavy service throughout World War II as the nations rail resources were stretched to the limit moving war materials and supplies across the continent. At the end of the war there occurred an increasing demand for express parcel and mail services as the economy grew again with the increase in spending and family growth generated by returning servicemen starting families and new businesses. In response CPR removed several cars from the 1937 production order and re-equipped them for passenger service. The cars received high-speed trucks, steam heat lines, and Universal type passenger brake valves. The cars, all selected at random from the fleet, were re-numbered into the 29000 series. Our car was given #29111. Initially the cars retained their freight service paint schemes, however later on some were re-painted with the passenger scheme of black roof and ends with CPR Tuscan Red sides. Lettering was in yellow with Canadian Pacific spelled out along the top of the car side in the Railroad Roman extended style of lettering found on the passenger cars. A few cars were painted in the silver scheme with a Tuscan Red lettering band to match the new equipment introduced with the "Canadian" in the 1950's. We believe, although it is not confirmed, that our car received the silver paint and was re-numbered to #4908 at this time. Additional information would be appreciated for the record.
In the 1970s when the BC Government was assembling the Provincial Museum Train, Bob Swanson's company, Railway Appliance and Research Ltd., purchased the car for use as a support and supply car during the trains travels around the Province. The car was named Naniamo River. After the Museum Train program ended the car served as a tool and equipment storage car for steam locomotive #2860.
When we were given custody of #2860,we asked BC Rail for a donation of the car as it would be ideal as a tool and parts car for #2860 and as a bonus it would fit in our Collection Plan as part of our Royal Hudson Operating Train set. In addition the car can be displayed with the CPR Passenger set. A car of similar vintage is used with CPR #2816 as a support car. We are fortunate to have acquired one of the few surviving examples of CPR passenger service boxcars for our collection
