Click on each picture for a closer look!
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We have featured the famed CNR 4-8-4 Northerns in a number of our news postings as many were produced and many have been preserved across Canada. Our #6213 is, of course, one of these. Less well known are the CPR Northerns. One reason for this is that only two of this class were ever produced.
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One of these is preserved in Ottawa at the Canada Science and Technology Museum. They have a magnificent locomotive hall where a number of large Canadian steam locomotives are preserved. Here is what they say on their website about the CPR 3100 class of locomotives:

“Only two locomotives of this type were built by the C.P.R., and both were preserved, no. 3101 being at Regina. In spite of the many technical innovations in their design including the extensive use of nickel steel, they were not considered an unqualified success. Their great weight proved to be a handicap, and they had difficulty in achieving high speed. However, they were familiar sight for more than 25 years at the head end of the heavy Toronto-Montreal night passenger trains. Both locomotives were converted to oil firing in 1956 and finished their working life in Western Canada. “
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The images above by Russ Milland show this locomotive as displayed in their hall. The picture of CPR 3100 in the Toronto rail yards is shown at the lower left and was found here where there is more information about CPR 3100. The picture of this locomotive in action at the right below is from the CPR Archives.
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Finally, there is a superb movie of the building of CPR 3100 which originated in the CPR archives and is hosted online at a fascinating website called the “Silent Cinema in Quebec” which offers many films for the silent film era. Click here to watch this movie- “Miracle of a Locomotive (9128)”.
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Posting by Russ Milland; Pictures as per the attributions above
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