CN Boxcab Electric

The CN Boxcab Electrics were a series of six electric locomotives built by General Electric for the Canadian Northern Railway in 1917. They were used in service through the Mount Royal Tunnel in Montreal until retirement in 1995, operating for 76 years, 7 months and 12 days.[1]

CN Boxcab #602
Type and origin
Power typeElectric
DesignerGeneral Electric
Model0440-E-166-4-GE-228-A
Build date1917
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARB+B
 • UICBo+Bo
Gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Loco weight174,000 lb (78,925 kg)
(78.925 t; 77.679 LT; 87.000 ST)
Electric system/s2400 V DC catenary
Current pickup(s)Pantograph
Performance figures
Maximum speed55 mph (89 km/h)
Tractive effort:
​
 • Continuous19,600 lbf (87 kN)
Career
OperatorsCanadian National Railway
ClassZ-1-a
Last run1995

They were classified as a Box-Cab model 0440-E-166-4-GE-228-A by General Electric, delivered new to the Canadian Northern Railway. They were very similar to 6 units built for the Butte, Anaconda and Pacific Railway, as was the electrification system. Each unit weighed 174,000 lb (79,000 kg). They had a B+B wheel arrangement, a maximum continuous tractive effort of 19,600 lbf (87 kN), capable of operating at a maximum safe speed of 55 mph (89 km/h) .[1]

They were given the following classification: Class: Z-1-a by the CNoR in 1919; CN continued to use the same classification after 1919. One unit, CN 6713, was retired in 1993 and was then cannibalized for spare parts to supply the remaining class Z-1-a locomotives.[1] Another, CN 6712, was donated to the Town of Mount Royal, and was stored at that city's municipal garage pending selection of a suitable display site. Such a site was never found; the unit was cannibalized and scrapped in 2011.

Preservation
A pair of CN Boxcab Electrics pulling a line of CN electric multiple units. toward the Mount Royal Tunnel in Montreal, Quebec.

Four locomotives were preserved.

  • CNoR600/CNR9100/100/6710 — On Display outside AMT Deux-Montagnes Station in Deux-Montagnes, Quebec. Pulled together with 6711 the Last train.
  • CNoR601/CNR9101/101/6711 — Preserved at Exporail in Delson, Quebec. Pulled together with 6710 the last train; also pulled first train into tunnel October 21, 1918.
  • CNoR605/CNR9105/105/6715 — Preserved at the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa, Ontario. Built entirely in Canada, at Canadian General Electric, Peterborough, Ontario.

See also

References
  1. Radford, William J. (September–October 1995). "The End of the Old CN Electrics" (PDF). Canadian Rail. Canadian Railroad Historical Assoc. (448): 40 pages. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
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