Canadian Pacific Railway

V Class 0-8-0

Over many years 0-8-0's were converted by the CPR from 2-8-0's replaced by bigger engines in road freight service.
30 V4a class engines ended this rebuilding as it was determined little was gained over simply using the 2-8-0's since it was discovered a large number of them were already in yard and transfer service across the system. Smaller drivers and more weight on them produced only a small increase in tractive effort which was seldom needed. Removal of the pony truck required careful redistribution of the weight to avoid premature wear and tear on the lead drivers. Simply put, the expense wasn't worth it. The result was M4 class 2-8-0's remained in yard and transfer service into the 1950's at various terminals around the system.

V1a 6800-6819 (20)..Cyl. 20" x 24" Drv. 51" Press.180 lbs. Baldwin
V1b 6820-6834 (15).... Cyl. 20" x 26" Drv. 51" Press.180 lbs. Richmond
10 tons coal 3200 gals. water

V1a 6816 with fog headlight. Baldwin 15823 5/1898 Rebuilt from 2-8-0 1/1913 Scrapped 1/1946
Vancouver May 29, 1939 Walter Edwin Frost/City of Vancouver Archives.

Vancouver February 24,1941 Bud Laws Collection

V1b class 6832 was originally built as a 2-8-0 by Richmond Locomotive and Machine Works #2708 7/1898
It was rebuilt 8/1912 and eventually scrapped 1/1939. Bud Laws Collection

V3c 6904-6913 (10) CPR 1913
Cylinders 21" x 28" Drivers 52" Pressure 200 lbs. t.e. 40,400 coal 12 tons water 5000 gals.

6907 switching at Higgins Street in Winnipeg. Thursday, April 23,1959. R.S.Ritchie

This interesting down-on view clearly shows differences in tenders used on V3 class engines (12 tons coal)
compared to unknown engine in background which may be a V4 class (below) with only 6 tons.
Place Viger Yard, Montreal in June 1950 R.S.Ritchie

V4a 6920-6949 (30) Rebuilt CPR 1928-29
Cylinders 22 1/2" x 28" drivers 52" press. 180 lbs. 41,700 t.e. 6 tons coal and 5,000 gallons water.

V4a class 6920 first of thirty 0-8-0's rebuilt from M4 class 2-8-0's. Originally M4 3547 CPR 5/1909. Rebuilt 5/1928
Good looking well proportioned engine. Taking water. Note the canvas extention on water pipe.
Bud Laws Collection

6923 on the table at Glen (Westmount) Que. Ex 3465 CPR #1514 3/07 Rebuilt 8/28. Note the foreign road engine at the left.
Alan R. Christmas/Bud Laws Collection

V4a 6939 with fog headlight. Ex 3534 MLW #45587 9/1908 Rebuilt 7/1928
Vancouver October 17,1942 Bud Laws Collection

Oil-fired 6939 one of six converted to oil for use on Western Lines.
Sutherland, Sask. 7/17/53 Howard W. Ameling/Bud Laws Collection

6940 with fog headlight and pilot box. Ex 3532 MLW #45585 9/1908 Rebuilt CPR 7/1928
Vancouver October 17, 1942 Bud Laws Collection

V5a 6600-6609 (10) CLC 1930
Cyl. 22 1/2 x 32 250 lbs. Drv. 58" 59,400 t.e.

Unidentified 6600 getting attention working the hump at Fort William. L.B.Chapman Collection

V5a class 6600 (CLC #1903 12/30) one of only ten modern new switch engines built although thirty were originally planned. These massive engines were used for the very heaviest switching, usually only two per terminal and with a multiple throttle would have a quick response. Two sizes of tenders were used with these engines both held 14 tons of coal (two later converted to oil) with either an unusual 7200 or 8500 gallon water capacity. This was likely about the only time the fireman would be sitting down since these engines were not equipped with stokers despite their size. Only one other class had vestibule cabs. Three W class 0-10-0's. Note the engine in the background, possibly 6920 above.
Bud Laws Collection

Here is the right side of 6601. Outremont (Montreal) 6/1938 Lawrence Stuckey/Bruce Chapman Collection
Note the heavy chains in foreground used under drivers since steam locomotives did not have parking brakes.

6605 looking fresh out of Weston backshop. Winnipeg George Harris/Walter Pfefferle Collection