Inspection Cars

R.L.Kennedy

Canadian Pacific Railway

M-235 (motor) is the designation of this spotless CPR 1938 Buick Special
shown at West Toronto roundhouse on August 14, 1961. David M. More

M-235 at the Canadian Railway Museum near Montreal. July 29,1982 Pierre Fournier

Spanner August-September 1953

M243 in Hochelaga Yard, Montreal. September 10, 1949 E.A.Toohey Collection

Inspection cars were automobiles used by high ranking company railway officers to conduct inspections of the railway's property. They were equipped with steel wheels to run on track and could not be used on roads, unlike hi-rail vehicles used in recent years that can do both. They were usually equipped with a turntable.

These inspections always brought a certain amount of trepidation with their passing as railway officials often reined terror upon hapless lower ranking officials and employees for anything that didn't please them.

Monthly inspections by the Divisional General Superintendent similarly were preceded by much concern on the part of lesser mortals. These inspections were conducted using the General Superintendent's business car attached to the rear of a passenger or mixed train if available, otherwise a freight train would be used.

Superintendent's business car 35 on the Elora Mixed hauled by D-6 class Ten Wheeler 526
drifting through Belwood, Ont. June 26, 1955 R.J.Sandusky

M-246 (ex C&O 5) at West Toronto Depot Bill Thomson

M-260 waits at West Toronto Depot, likely about to head north on the Mac Tier Subdivision.
Bullet with F-2 class 4-4-4 Jubilee on eastward Galt Sub. Gord Billinghurst Collection

CPR M-260, 1947 Cadillac was used by President N. R. Crump, Smiths Falls Railway Museum.

M-364 1932 Buick, Brandon, Manitoba. July 19, 1947 David M. More

CPR M-499 1934 Buick

M-499 at the Western Development Museum, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

First assigned in 1939 to Superintendent Harry Taylor, Moose Jaw, in 1957 to Supt. Crawford C. Young.
It was replaced in 1959 by a Hi-rail vehicle.

Close-up of the inspection car turntable, removed for display.

Above three images: Western Development Museum, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

M600 Calgary late 1920's Packard. Note turntable for car. Late 1940's photo by Norm Corness.

Spanner May 1955

M-602 a 1938 Chevrolet is located at the Alexander Galt Museum in Lethbridge, Alberta.

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M820 Revelstoke, June 1951. W.C.Whittaker/Bill Thomson

CPR Subsidiaries

Even subsidiary Dominion Atlantic had an inspection car, M-107 shown at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.
Reading the orders for Extra M-107 East is J.C.McCuaig, DAR Manager. Next to him is Jack Mc.Quarrie, Engineer and Reg McGill, General Agent, Yarmouth. Driver is Vince Young, Secretary and passenger is C.E.Haystead, Roadmaster. Mid-1950's. Bob Brooks

DAR Hy-Rail 1958 Pontiac station wagon. Kentville, NS

Quebec Central M-286 a 1929 Packard at the Vallee Jonction enginehouse, April 1953
R.S.Ritchie CPR Ret'd.

Other railways

GWWD 33 an old Paige shown at St.Boniface, Manitoba, September 19,1959 J.D.Knowles

Greater Winnipeg Water District 34 is a 1946 Packard.
Now at the Winnipeg Railway Museum inside the former CNoR station in downtown Winnipeg.

New York Central 3383 at Courtright c.1955 The Sirman Collection

Northern Alberta 99 a 1930 Buick. R.D.C.Comrie

ONR M72 a Checker sedan more commonly used as a taxi in USA. Phil Mason

Pere Marquette Railway IN.2 Inspection Car at Chatham, Ont. Aug. 15,1945
The Sirman Collection

Toronto Hamilton & Buffalo 1, 1951 Chrysler Windsor Deluxe. Tim Miller/Rod Wilson Collection

TH&B 1, is in private hands in Tottenham and occasionally seen at railway hobby shows.

Note: There are only six known preserved Inspection Automobiles, four CPR, one TH&B, one GWWD.