Last month’s article on CPR #8000 brought a phone call from member Harold Holtby. Harold mentioned that he had the opportunity to actually view the locomotive when it was on display in Calgary in 1931. Needless to say, Harold was just a young lad at the time. Harold’s father worked for the Calgary Ice Co. located near the CPR station. His dad called him down to the station one day to have a look at the wonderful technological marvel of a steam locomotive that was CPR #8000. Harold also mentioned that he had seen The Royal Scot on display in Calgary. This reminded me of another photo in my collection.
In 1933 the London Midland and Scottish Railway decided to send a special train to North America to participate in the “Century of Progress” World’s Fair in Chicago. This was to be followed by a tour through the western United States a return east over the lines of the CPR to Montreal. The locomotive, LMS 4-6-0, #6100 and her train of eight cars traveled to Canada via CPR steamship, off loading at Montreal. The locomotive and train were taken to Angus Shop where they were prepared for North American service. The locomotive, which was partly dismantled for the voyage, was re-assembled and fitted with a bell and a standard locomotive headlight. The locomotive was resplendent in shiny black paint with maroon panels on the cab side and tender. When traveling over CPR lines a wood pilot was added to the locomotive to avoid the risk of derailment should the train encounter any rock falls.
The photo shows The Royal Scot at Revelstoke on her eastbound journey on October 29, 1933. The photographer is unknown. The print was given to me by a retired CPR employee in a batch of old prints and postcards. Behind and to the right of the locomotive is a small kiosk that stood west of the station. An enthusiastic crowd has gathered for the occasion and the CPR policeman can be seen to the right of the pilot keeping a watchful eye on the people. The tour ended in November of 1933 at the CNR Bonaventure station in Montreal. The locomotive and her train were shipped back to England.
The locomotive in the photo is actually not #6100, but rather LMS #6152. Management at LMS deemed it to be in better condition than #6100 for the North American tour and the identities were changed. It is reported that CPR mechanical officials were so impressed with the maroon cab and tender panels on #6100 that similar cab and tender maroon panels appeared on standard Hudson #2802. Following this experimental application, the maroon panels started to appear on the Jubilee class, the Hudsons, (standard and Royal), as well as Pacifics and other locomotives used in passenger service.
