The Railways of Canada Archives -- Former Canadian Pacific Railway Passenger Services to Montreal Via State of Maine-Saint John-Halifax

Former Canadian Pacific Railway
Passenger Services to Montreal
Via State of Maine-Saint John-Halifax

Part V

By Don Scott, Coquitlam, BC

Remarks: Symbol * Denotes CPR Steam In
Tuscan Red-Grey-Black-Gold Paint Scheme.

The 1950's:
During the Fall of 1954 CPR commenced receiving some of their new stainless-steel passenger cars (an order of about 176 cars of different types). CPR Montreal-Saint John passenger trains 39, 40, 41 and 42-the latter two trains the "Atlantic Limited" both had 4-8-4 "Northerns" *3100 and *3101 being assisned on the 175 mile Montreal-Megantic sector, with the semi-streamlined heavy G-3 Class 4-6-2's of the *2390 series and the *2400 series handling these trains Megantic-McAdam-Saint John, N.B. These trains for a period had the new "Park" series Scenic-Dome Observation-Lounge-Club sleepers on the back plus the new stainless-steel "Chateau" series Duplex-Roomette and "Manor" series sleepers. Three cars; they were assigned by CPR Public Relations and on display at Union Station at Saint John. The first "Park" series was the "Tweedsmuir Park" while on layover in which I had the opportunity to go through in the former coach yards at the east end of Saint John.

Later CPR assigned the odd new stainless-steel sleeper on the Maritime runs, and by 1955 with a few 100 series stainless-steel "Deluxe" coaches, "Manor" and the odd "Chateau" series Duplex-Roomette sleepers. The "Atlantic Limited" trains 41 and 42 for a number of runs Montreal-Saint John saw new Fairbanks-Morse 2400hp "Trainmaster" 8900. By the latter part of 1954 CPR assigned their MLW/Alco FPA-2's of the 4000 series and FB-2 4463-4464 to the "Atlantic Limited" and later MLW/Alco RS-10's of the 8400 series, later the 8500's. Trains #39 and #40 on the Montreal-Maritimes run continued with steam.

Almost omitted the "Lake" series heavy-weight rebuilt buffet-parlor-compartment- bedroom sleepers that were assigned to the Montreal-Saint John service arriving about 1950 out of Montreal's Angus Shops-"Lake Huron", "Lake Annis", "Lake Erie" and "Lake Winnipeg" and the "Lake O'Hara"-all very distinctive looking cars equipped with Comonwealth trucks.

Trains 41 and 42 Dining cars ran Saint John-Mattawamkeag, Maine and back to Saint John. Trains 39 had either a buffet-parlor or Cafe-Parlor added at Sherbrooke, Quebec early in the morning westbound and dropped of at Sherbrooke on the eastbound Train #42 of the "Atlantic Limited".

In the Fall of 1955-the change of timetable the end of October-CPR discontinued trains 39 and 40 to and from Saint John from Montreal-but these trains continued to operate Montreal-Megantic-streamlined head-ends, 2200 series streamlined "Deluxe" coaches, parlor car, and buffet-parlor, or Cafe-Parlor.

The "Atlantic Limited" schedule was changed eastbound and westbound on trains 41 and 42 and the "Princess Helene" Saint John-Digby, Nova Scotia schedule was changed. Train #42 on the new schedule arrived Saint John about 0930 with the CP Bay of Fundy service for Digby out at 1030. Westbound train # 41 departed about 2100 after the arrival of the service from Digby at 2000. The "Gull" from Boston and westbound to Boston also connected with the Bay of Fundy service. DAR also made changes system-wide to their schedules to co-incide with the Bay of Fundy service, "Atlantic Limited" and "Gull" schedules. Diesel power officially took over the Montreal-Saint John passenger service-operating with streamlined light-weight 85 foot express cars, baggage, and Postal Car; New 100 series "Deluxe" coaches mixed in with streamlined light-weight "Deluxe" coaches, heavy-weight dining car, heavy-weight sleepers, streamlined light-weight "Grove" series Roomette sleeper, new stainless-steel "Chateau" series Duplex-Roomette sleeper, and the new stainless-steel "Manor" series sleepers; plus a heavy-weight rebuilt "Lake" series Buffet-Parlor sleeper.

The only semi-streamlined heavy 4-6-2 to remain east of Megantic was *2397 operating McAdam-Saint John in freight service and protection power for the "Atlantic Limited"

By 1956, Canadian Pacific Steamships placed their new 25,500 ton "Empress of Britain" (3rd) into Trans-Atlantic passenger service-Liverpool-Quebec-Montreal and made West Saint John, N.B. its Winter months turnaround with CPR "Empress" liner specials westbound and eastbound to and from Montreal-plus a special mail-express train. The "Empress of Australia"(2nd was sold), a new sister ship of the "Britain" went into service in 1957 the 25,500 ton "Empress of England". The "Empress of France" (2nd) of 20,000 tons also made Saint John its turnaround during the Winter. The 26,500 3 funnel "Empress of Scotland" never made calls at Saint John and was assigned to New York-West Indies-South America cruises or doing the same cruising but from UK ports. The Empress of Britian and Empress of England later commenced cruising either out of New York to the Carribean, or from UK to South Africa, or UK-South Africa-South America- Carribean and back to the UK. The "Empress of France" (2nd was retired after 1960, as the new 27,300 ton "Empress of Canada" (3rd) was to make her debut on the Trans-Atlantic run-New York-West Indies-South America cruises-plus an annual 61 day New York-Mediterranean-New York cruise.

During the fall of 1959 the "Atlantic Limited" was made an all stainless-steel train with the exception of the streamlined light-weight express, Postal car. Stainless-steel equipment" 3000 series stainless-steel baggage-dormitory car, two to three 100 series "Deluxe" coaches, "Skyline" 500 series Scenic-Dome car (part parlor-Dinette), stainless-steel Dining Room car, "Chateau" series stainless-steel "Duplex-Roomette" sleepers, stainless-steel "Manor" series sleepers, "Park" series end-car stainless-steel Observation-Club-Loung sleeper. The "Drumhead" lit up at night looking very distinctive-with "Beaver & Shield" logo and letters "Atlantic Limited".

Back information from the second World War-Montreal-Saint John passenger trains 39 and 40 at times were known to run in eight (8) sections.

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