The Railways of Canada Archives -- Canadian Pacific Railway's Former G-3 Heavy 4-6-2 #2397

Canadian Pacific Railway's
Former G-3 Heavy 4-6-2 #2397

By Don Scott, Coquitlam, BC

Symbol * Denotes CPR Heavy Semi-streamlined G-3 Class *2397 Built by CLC 1942 in Tuscan Red-Grey-Black-Gold paint scheme.

I was sitting here thinking of former heavy 4-6-2 *2397 that once blazed the CPR main-line Montreal-McAdam-Saint John, N.B. running passenger service either on trains 39, 40, and the "Atlantic Limited" trains 41 and 42 period 1940's through 1955 prior to diesels taking over partly in 1954 and full dieselization by th Fall of 1955.

Locomotive *2397 was the last of her breed to remain operating in New Brunswick; partly being a protection locomotive for the Montreal-Saint John passenger trains. Just in the 1958 period could be observed in freight service McAdam-Saint John.

What came to my mind, is a photo of *2397 at Fredericton, N.B. being assigned to freight service on the "Oriental" a classic name for a freight operating the main-line McAdam-Fredericton Jct. then from there into Fredericton and return back to McAdam connecting with westbound Trans-Continental Train #951 Saint John-Vancouver. "The Oriental departed McAdam eastbound around 0500 for Fredericton and returned back to McAdam in the evening around 2030 or 2100. I don't know how long *2397 was assigned to this freight. Usually from the 1946-1947 on period new rebuilt 2-8-2's of the 5200 series performed the duties. Locomotive 5208 was the first 5200 series assigned to the "Oriental", and I remember 5239 on this service.

The photograph was taken by either Ken Mac Donald of Fredericton(formerly from Truro, N.S., or the late Fred Stevens from Moncton, N.B.

What comes to Rail Fans memories over time. No doubt at times during the Winter months *2397 handled many CP "Empress" liner westbound boat trains westbound and eastbound between West St. John as far as McAdam-boat trains to and from Montreal. Also the 10,000 ton CP Immigrant liner "Beaverbrae"(2nd) no doubt at times had the *2397 on the power end.

*2397 had a good number of sisters on the Montreal-Saint John passenger service in that period: *2394, *2395, *2396, (*2397), *2402, *2453, *2455, *2457, *2459, *2461, *2467, * 2392 a short period on the Boston-Saint John "Gull" on the Vanceboro-Saint John sector.

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