Canadian National

Self-propelled equipment

Oil Electric and gas-mechanical cars.

All photographs Jim Parker Collection unless otherwise credited.

Like many railways the CNR sought to reduce operating costs for its lesser passenger trains especially those on branchlines. Late in 1923 a CNR official visited William Beardmore and Company in Glasgow, Scotland where airship motors were being tested and it was agreed they could be adapted for railway use.

Beginning in 1925 CNR took delivery of a number of self-propelled diesel-electric cars assembled by their Pointe St. Charles Shops in Montreal using these Beardmore diesels (4 cylinder, 185 hp), Ottawa Car Manufacturing Co. bodies, National Steel Car trucks and Westinghouse Electric traction motors. The first car delivered in August 1925 was 15819 a 60 foot double-ended car that began service on September 21st. between Hamilton-Guelph-Galt-Brantford. The first articulated car was 15817 which began operation September 18th. Montreal-Hawkesbury-Ottawa. A month later it was replaced by 15818 and reassigned to Guelph-Southhampton service.

The next car 15820 was destined for Western Canada and beginning November 1st it made a record breaking run 2,937 miles to Vancouver. Following this epic run it ran back to Edmonton where it took up service on trains 77 and 78 between Edmonton and Vermillion covering 129.8 miles Daily Except Sunday. Five more similar cars were delivered in 1927 following which five bigger cars (15826-30) 73 feet long double-ended with 6 cyl. 300 hp Beardmore diesel engines were also built in 1927. There were now 30 self-propelled cars of various sorts and in the year they operated nearly 2 million miles!

Read more: Early diesels

15810 Brill 4-cyl. gas-mechanical model 55 built by Ottawa Car 1925 15 tons 43 feet 38 passengers.
Used on employee shuttle two miles between Kamloops and Kamloops Junction.
Kamloops October 12, 1941 Bud Laws Collection

15817 articulated train. Canadian National 23653

Front door open to show diesel engine. Canadian National 23645

Canadian National 23647

15817 with a coach.

15820 two views 23605 above and 23604 below

15824 with 15708 below

15708 rebuilt 7/1926 as tower car, rebuilt 8/1946 as trailer. .

15826 diagram shows small passenger compartment with 3-2 seating.

Motor Train 603 has arrived in Midland at the end of its run from Lindsay in a light snowfall. Passengers have detrained and new ones entrained for the return trip while express is handled by the contractor A.C.Mc.Nabb Phone 136 Midland.
It is about Noon on Saturday, January 25, 1958. R.J.(Bob) Sandusky

15832 is a 74 foot CC&F combination car with a 27' 3" baggage compartment and a 22' 8" 37 seat passenger compartment. Built in 7/1930 and equipped with a Westinghouse 6 cyl. 350 hp diesel and two Westinghouse 215 hp traction motors. Also, Peter Smith hot water heater. Holding 275 gallons of fuel. Weight 70 tons.

Note: Following its retirement 15832 was converted in 1960 for work service as Auxiliary Cable Car 60026 (unpowered) as were others.

15767 is a 51 foot 29 ton combine with RPO mail section and 22 seat passenger compartment. Built by Brill 22411 1926 as CVR 151 all-baggage lightweight trailer. Converted 1941 by CNR.

NOTE: Last runs of 603 and 604 were on Saturday October 25, 1958 with Pacific 5292, mail & express 7732 and coaches 5170 and 5196. 15832 had been transferred to relieve D-1 on the Hamilton-Georgetown-Allandale-Meaford run.

15837 Pointe St.Charles 7/03/1954 John Dziobko

D-1 Motor Train

D-1 running Extra this is likely a display train. Brockville December 1951

This streamlined front put a modernized look to the train set complete with a unique numbers.
Certainly better than the usual ugly look of these cars! It was to be the only such conversion.
By this time modern Budd Rail Diesel Cars were coming.

D-1 rebuilt PSC October 1951 (ex 15834) as powered baggage car with two trailer cars. Caterpillar D-397 12 cyl.diesel.

C-1 (ex 15742) combination RPO coach trailer seating 14 passengers.

C-1 RPO door. Note letter slot for public to post mail.

C-2 (ex 15739) trailer coach seating 52 passengers including 8 in smoker section