The classifications given by railroads to their steam locomotive fleets were as varied as the machines themselves with several different designations within a particular class! Canadian Pacific Railway steam locomotives were no different and featured everything from small switchers to large 4-8-4 Northerns and 2-10-2 Santa Fes. The information here is merely meant to list these classes and does not go into detail about their specific differences among general types (i.e., Pacifics, Mikados, Prairies, etc.).
Because the CP, like rival CN, operated all over Canada it used a wide variety of steam types from small Consolidations to Santa Fes and Texas Types (2-10-4s). The CP, perhaps more than any other North American railroad which ever operated, rosters the largest collection of surviving steam locomotives. An entire fleet of some 40 locomotives remain in some kind of preservation with seven still operating in British Columbia and Alberta. For a list of preserved CP steam locomotives please click here.
Class A2
The CP's Class A2 included its roster of 4-4-0 Americans.
Class D
The CP's Class D included its roster of 4-6-0 Ten-wheelers.
Class E
The CP's Class E included more 4-6-0 Ten-wheelers.
Class F
The CP's Class F included its roster of streamlined 4-4-4s.
Class G
The CP's Class G included its roster of 4-4-2 Pacifics.
Class H1
The CP's Class H was its lone roster of 4-6-4 Hudsons.
Class I1
The CP's Class I1 included its roster of 4-8-2 Mountains.
Class J5
The CP's Class J5 included its roster of 2-6-0 Moguls.
Class K1
The CP's Class K1 included its lone fleet of 4-8-4 Northerns.
Class M4
The CP's Class M4 included its roster of 2-8-0 Consolidations.
Class N2
The CP's Class N2 included more 2-8-0 Consolidations.
Class P
The CP's Class P included its roster of 2-8-2 Mikados.
Class R
The CP's Class R included its roster of 2-10-0 Decapods.
Class S2
The CP's Class S2 included its roster of 2-10-2 Santa Fes.
Class T1
The CP's Class T1 included its roster of 2-10-4 Texas Types.
Class U3
The CP's Class U3 included its roster of 0-6-0 switchers.
Class V
The CP's Class V included its roster of 0-8-0 switchers.
Class W1
The CP's Class W1 included its roster of 0-10-0 switchers.
For more information on the steam locomotives like those operated by the Canadian Pacific Railway consider Guide to North American Steam Locomotives by author George Drury, which includes nearly 500 pages of information on virtually all of the steam locomotive wheel arrangements and designs (including streamlined steamers) ever developed. The book is a great resource on steam locomotives and a fine reference tool; you should find it very useful.
Also, consider the book American Steam Locomotives from author Brian Solomon. While this publication does not include quite as much technical data as Guide to North American Steam Locomotives it is still a very good resource with lots of information and best of all, is loaded with photographs! If you're interested in perhaps purchasing these books please visit The Railroad Diamond by clicking the tab in the menu to your left marked "TRD Store".