Old Time Trains

Canadian Pacific Railway

James Simmons/W.H.N.Rossiter Collection

No. 6602, a V5 0-8-0 is shown on the Lambton ashpit, after a night's work on the big lead. Two of these engines, Nos. 6602 and 6603 were seen around Lambton for many years, and 6603 did some time at Mactier. There were ten engines in the class, 6600 - 6609 and they were scattered across Canada from St. John, New Brunswick to Trail, British Columbia.

The CPR V5 were the only steamers on the system that had their numbers usurped by the encroaching diesel. The MLW-Alco DS-6, 660 h.p. switchers edged into the 6600 series in 1957 so the V5s were renumbered into the 6960 series. The only one never to receive a new number was 6603 which was scrapped at Angus in July 1956. They were big brutes as yard engines go, with lots of get up and go. One afternoon in February, 1947, while I was working as a fireman on the wayfreight yard job, we were surprised to see 6602 standing near the yard office awaiting us instead of our regular diesel No. 7027. Our assigned engine was not available for some reason, so the opportunity arrived for me to try my prowess as a fireman on a V5. The vestibule cab (unusual for a yard engine) was quite large and the shovelling plate seemed miles from the firedoor. Charlie Moreau, the engineer, said he had heard they were intended for stokers but these were never applied. It took about half a shift before I got the hang of firing the monster. It seemed that every time Charlie opened the throttle, the needle on the steam gauge took a dive. However, we persevered and finally built a fire to the old girls liking, from then on she steamed like a charm and was easy to keep hot. Alas, this was my one and only experience with the V5 class. Newton Rossiter

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Old Time Trains © 2021

Canadian Pacific Railway

James Simmons/W.H.N.Rossiter Collection

No. 6602, a V5 0-8-0 is shown on the Lambton ashpit, after a night's work on the big lead. Two of these engines, Nos. 6602 and 6603 were seen around Lambton for many years, and 6603 did some time at Mactier. There were ten engines in the class, 6600 - 6609 and they were scattered across Canada from St. John, New Brunswick to Trail, British Columbia.

The CPR V5 were the only steamers on the system that had their numbers usurped by the encroaching diesel. The MLW-Alco DS-6, 660 h.p. switchers edged into the 6600 series in 1957 so the V5s were renumbered into the 6960 series. The only one never to receive a new number was 6603 which was scrapped at Angus in July 1956. They were big brutes as yard engines go, with lots of get up and go. One afternoon in February, 1947, while I was working as a fireman on the wayfreight yard job, we were surprised to see 6602 standing near the yard office awaiting us instead of our regular diesel No. 7027. Our assigned engine was not available for some reason, so the opportunity arrived for me to try my prowess as a fireman on a V5. The vestibule cab (unusual for a yard engine) was quite large and the shovelling plate seemed miles from the firedoor. Charlie Moreau, the engineer, said he had heard they were intended for stokers but these were never applied. It took about half a shift before I got the hang of firing the monster. It seemed that every time Charlie opened the throttle, the needle on the steam gauge took a dive. However, we persevered and finally built a fire to the old girls liking, from then on she steamed like a charm and was easy to keep hot. Alas, this was my one and only experience with the V5 class. Newton Rossiter