Canadian Pacific Railway

G2 class 4-6-2 Pacific

G2a 1151 as originally built 1/1906 by Angus. Later rebuilt as G2p 2501.

There were 166 (2500-2665) G2 class 4-6-2 Pacific type steam locomotives built between January 1906 and June 1914. Most were built by the CPR at Angus Shops however, 46 were built by Montreal Locomotive Works and 2 by Schenectady Locomotive Works in the U.S.

Designed and built for passenger service largely to replace smaller Ten-wheelers many wound up in freight service in later years displaced by even bigger and better engines. Most of these capable locomotives lasted until dieselization although, only one still exists, 2634 displayed at Moose Jaw.

Starting in 1918 and continuing for about 12 years (ending in the Depression) these locomotives were rebuilt with many receiving new cylinders of different sizes, new boilers and frames.

Original boiler 200 lb. with 21" x 28" cylinders (21)
Original boiler 200 lb. with 22 ½" x 28" cylinders. (89)

New boiler 200 lbs. 22 ½" x 28" (2)

New boiler 225 lbs. 21 ¼" x 28" (6)

New boiler 250 lbs. 20" x 28" (48)

Built with open cabs they were later rebuilt with vestibule cabs. All were coal and hand fired. A few were only rated at 30% (30,000 t.e.) but, most were 34%. All had 70" diameter drivers. Tenders were originally of 5,000 gallon capacity later, many got 7,000 or 8,000 gallon 12 ton tenders. Some got 10,000 gallon 18 ton tenders although a few retained their 5,000 gallon tenders. Some were equipped with Elesco feedwater heaters, one (2592) a Worthington and some didn't have a feedwater heater. All were built with the CPR's own Vaughan-Horsey superheaters. Most were rebuilt with Type A or Type E superheaters. Some had screw reverser, some lever and some were power equipped.

The many variations of these locomotives as well as the 75" driver G1 class which had far more varieties in only 39 locomotives (2200-2238), all had led to the eventual choice of specifications for the modern G5 class. The G5's were all built with standard features including 20" x 28" cylinders 70" drivers 34% t.e. 8,000 gal. 14 ton tenders Type A superheater and mechanical stoker.

Fresh out of the erecting shop! 2507 CPR #1481 11/06 Rebuilt G2q 1/26 new cyl. 22 1/2" x 28" Old boiler 200 lbs.
c.1940's W.R.Osborne/Bruce Chapman Collection

Spotless 2512 with vestibule cab and original small tender. CPR 5/1907
G2c rebuilt 10/25 with old boiler 200 lbs. and new 22 1/2" x 28" cyl.

G2r 2520 rebuilt 12/26 with new boiler 225lbs. 21.25" x 28" cylinders. CPR 7/1907
Sutherland, SK November 1938 Bud Laws Collection.
Note the cinder cars on depressed track in foreground. Long before recycling became a fad the
CPR reused these cinders as ballast in yards and on secondary tracks.

G2r 2523 rebuilt 12/29 with new boiler 250 lbs. 20" x 28" cyl. CPR 7/1907
Sutherland, SK August 16, 1936 Bud Laws Collection

G2q 2524 rebuilt 12/29 still with old boiler 200 lbs. new 22.5" x 28" cyl. CPR 8/1907
No. 52 Great West Express leaving Sutherland, SK. October 24, 1938 Bud Laws Collection

G2s 2539 was once assigned to Montreal commuter service along with six other G2 Pacifics equipped with a second dynamo to provide electricity to coaches. An early form of HEP! Downgraded to freight service following replacement by much newer G3 class Pacifics themselves downgraded by new diesels. Montreal. 3-29-58 Joseph Testagrose Collection

2541 leaving St.Gabriel de Brandon, Quebec with wooden passenger cars in a bucolic scene complete with horse drawn delivery wagon that portrays a time belying the calendar dated 1957. Fred Angus/Bruce Chapman Collection

G2s 2547 rebuilt 10/25 still with old boiler 200 lbs. new cylinders 22.5" x 28" no FWH CPR 11/1908
Still with open cab and small tender. Lambton (Toronto) shop track. June 4, 1939 Bud Laws Collection

G2s 2572 rebuilt 12/29 new boiler 250 lbs. 20" x 28" cyl. MLW 46065 6/1909
Sutherland, SK October 7, 1938 Bud Laws Collection

G2s 2575 on Train 319 ready to leave for Shaunavon. Mixed train equipment on next track.
Shed and team tracks in foreground. c.1951 Assiniboia SK Ron Bearman

G2s 2582 with original small 5,000 gallon tender. Rebuilt 8/23 new 250 lbs. boiler 20" x 28" cyl.
Smiths Falls 1955 Addy Schwalm /Bruce Chapman Collection

Here she is again, this time at Ottawa West in company with new RS-10 8481 delivered 4-28-55. Ron Visockis Collection

Here is 2582 three years later as a London engine with a standard size 7,000 gallon tender. London August 4, 1958
Ray Deschenes/Bruce Chapman Collection

G2s 2583 still with open cab. Rebuilt 5/28 new boiler 250lbs. 20" x 28" cyl. MLW 46185 7/1909
Lyndonville, VT. Bud Laws

2592 only G2 with distinct Worthington feedwater heater on a short passenger train including lightweight mail and express car.
CPR 5/1910 Rebuilt 11/1930 Cyl. 20" x 28" new boiler 250 lbs.
Douglas, Manitoba 5/11/1942 Ernie Plant/Bruce Chapman Collection

G2s 2596 still equipped with open cab. Rebuilt 6/26 old boiler 200 lbs. 22 1/2 x 28 cyl. Schenectady 48015 7/1910
Pasumpsic, VT. Bud Laws

G2s 2597 with open cab. Rebuilt 11/1926 new boiler 250 lbs. press. 20" x 28" Cyl. Schenectady 48016 7/1910
Note the wartime shrouded headlight. If the little boy is still alive he is likely retired!
July 1943 Barton, Vermont. Bud Laws

G2s 2598 Rebuilt 5/1930 with new boiler 250 lbs. Cyl. 20" x 28" MLW 49476 2/1911
Walter Pfefferle Collection

G2u 2622 rebuilt 5/28 cyl. 20" x 28" new boiler 250 lbs. G2e CPR 5/1912
No. 164 to St.Andrews, NB. Mc.Adam August 11, 1956 Walter Pfefferle Collection

G2u 2636 rebuilt 6/1928 22 1/2 x 28 cyl. G2e MLW 52662 5/1913 Sutherland, SK Bud Laws

A pair of G2u class engines specially equipped with ATC assigned to Toronto-Buffalo passenger service.
2659 Squaw Island, Buffalo, NY and 2662 in Buffalo with TH&B 109 northbound for Toronto
2659 rebuilt 5/25 and 2662 rebuilt 6/29 both with old boilers and 22 1/2" x 28" Cyl. Bud Laws

Passenger Extra 2663 at Joliette, Que. CPR June 1914. Rebuilt G2u 12/24 New cyl. 22 1/2" X 28" New boiler 200 lbs.
10-4-58 Joseph Testagrose Collection

2664 CPR 6/14 Rebuilt G2u 4/22 new cylinders 22 1/2" x 28" old boiler 200 lbs.
London 1944 L.A.Stuckey/Bruce Chapman Collection.

This was the second to the last of 166 G2 class Pacifics built by the CPR and MLW from 1902.