Canadian Pacific Railway

Lambton Yard Engines - Steam

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

J. Walder/J. Riddell Collection

The date is August 1,1953 and with its pop valves roaring, No. 6922 is seen backing off the shop track at Lambton Yard, ready for a day's work. At the throttle is engineer Bill Walder, watching as his son, James, preserves on film two C.P.R. veterans. No. 6922 was a V4a class 0-8-0 type yard engine originally built in April 1907 by the C.P.R. as No. 1668, a 2-8-0 "Consolidation", later renumbered in 1912 to No. 3468. During 1928 the C.P.R. carried out a rebuilding program, converting a number of M4 class light 2-8-0's to 0-8-0 yard engines and No. 6922 was rebuilt from No. 3468 at Angus in July 1928.

This locomotive saw a good deal of service in the Toronto area and was stationed at John Street along with No. 6931 when I worked there in the late 1940's and 1950's. Sometime during the mid-1950's No. 6922 was transferred to Montreal Terminals, working there until the summer of 1957, when it was retired and scrapped at Angus on November 1 of that year. While stationed at John Street, this engine was involved in at least one mishap that I know of. About 3:00 p.m. on June 19, 1952, while switching a cut of cars near Avenue Road overpass on the North Toronto cut-off, No. 6922 was hit by two locomotives and a van which were backing east to pick up a London freight. The double locomotives struck No. 6922's tender and turned it over, which in turn crushed the left side of the cab. Engineer Grant was able to jump clear but fireman White was pinned between the cab wall and boiler. A rescue crew worked for an hour with torches and bars and finally released White who sustained a broken leg and burns. No. 6922 was soon repaired at West Toronto Shops and saw five more years of service.

In August 1936 as a lad of fourteen, I remember visiting the famous Rexall train then touring the U.S.A. and Canada. This long blue and white drug exhibit train was on display in Toronto at "Fez City", a small yard near the waterfront. This odd name was acquired when a number of Shriner special trains were parked there during the great Shriner convention held in the city in the summer of 1930. With departure time for the Rexall train only minutes away, a C.P.R. 0-8-0 of the 6900 series (I forget the exact number) backed down and coupled onto the open observation car which graced the tail end of the exhibition train. Its purpose was to give the long heavy train a boost up the slight incline to the main line in Bathurst Street Yards. Among several people sitting on the observation platform was Louis K. Liggett, President of the giant drug firm, who seemed to be interested in the 0-8-0's efforts to help the NYC oil burning 4-8-2 back up the train. On reaching the main line, the 6900 locomotive cut off and the streamlined NYC No. 2873 proceeded east towards Montreal. Newton Rossiter.

NOTE: It is quite possible the 6922 was assigned to the North Toronto job at the time since it is shown here backing off the shop track headed east. Most Lambton yard engines were headed west.

5750 on the Parkdale Transfer handling its van (the only switching transfers were required
to do), at Scarlett Road end of Lambton Yard, on a cold clear day in December 1951.
J. Walder/J. Riddell Collection
These R2 class 2-10-0's were rebuilt at Angus years ago from 0-6-6-0's.
The fireman was, I (RLK) believe, my grandfather the late J.H. (Johnny) Jackson.

U3c 6160 Circa 1937 Al Paterson/Bud Laws Collection

U3d 6209 Lambton c. 1946 Al Paterson/Bud Laws Collection

6226 with 6212 behind on crowded shop tracks.
Doug Cummings/Bud Law Collection

U3d 6240 June 18, 1939 Harry Wales/Bud Laws Collection
Cyl. 18"x26" Drv.52" Press. 200 lbs. t.e. 27,500 Lt.Wt. Eng. 65 tons.
Tender capacity 4 tons coal 3,500 gals. water.
Note: Although equipped with piston valves this engine is not superheated.
Only the U3e sub-class (6260-6304) were superheated.

U3 6242 with a V3c class 6600 peaking out from behind. May 19, 1940 Bud Laws Collection

6275 would become the last 0-6-0 on CPR roster. Finishing up in Goderich Yard.
Note: Stores Dept. in background.

U3e 6277 OSS (Out of Service Serviceable) at Lambton bone yard. CPR 7/1913

M4d class 3421 Schenectady #30273 10/1904 June 4, 1939 Bud Laws Collection

One of a number of M4 class 2-8-0's assigned to Lambton for yard service there and at out-of-town points, Mac Tier, Port Mc.Nicoll and Trenton. In the late 1950's Trenton had two yard engines, long-time Parkdale
U3 0-6-0 6271 and an M4 class engine 3507. Trenton also had 3484 (likely there when this photo was taken).