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Canadian Pacific Railway Steam Locomotives

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 Canadian Pacific Railway steam locomotives please click here.

For more reading on the CP you may want to consider the book Canadian Pacific Railway from author Tom Murray, which gives an excellent general history of the railroad and is filled with historic, color photographs.

Also, consider Perfecting the American Steam Locomotive by author J. Parker Lamb. As the name implies the book details the earliest history of steam engine technology, even before it was used in railroad applications. His book later explores the development of steam locomotive technology in the United States from the 19th through the 20th centuries, covering not only the most popular steam locomotive designs but also the most successful manufactures to build them. The book has received excellent reviews and is a great resource on steam locomotives and a fine reference tool; you should find it very useful. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing either (or both) of these books please visit the links below which will take you to ordering information through Amazon.com, the trusted online shopping network.

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