CN LINES V12N3 - Canadian National Railways Historical Association

Wendell Lemon advises that in Extra
2200 South (Issue 49), a short article notes
that the “flutes” of air horns are correctly
termed “bells.” He also suggests that we
should draw attention to some additional
details found in photos in Part One as follows:
“Note the grills on the D-101 (over
the headlights and end windows). The
Newcastle–Fredericton RDC has just
arrived at Fredericton and has bellied up
behind a CPR passenger train. There was
(initially) no pilot on the rear of the
D-100(i) as the other end always led.
However note the single flute (bell) horn
for reverse movements for the conductor
over to South Devon shop. I also see a
steam line hanging to one side. This car
and others had through steam lines for
mixing in with steam-heated trains,
whether diesel- or steam-hauled. The
B&M RDCs also had steam lines when
they came to CN in 1965 and 1966. No.
6302 on page 35 must have been going
out as an extra (west from Spadina shops)
as per the white flags. Also note on No.
6004 the add-on tail light for reverse
movements plus the one-bell horn. This
car had steam lines that were cut off at
Moncton. The rear headlight over the
diaphragm on No. 6004 was a permanent
CN add-on for back up movements. It
was controlled from another RDC for
leading when MU’ed. The photo on page
39 of No. 6356 is not at Moncton, but
probably at Calder in Edmonton.”
“There was a pile of diaphragms around
the Moncton shop in the Seventies and
then none. They probably went to scrap
when VIA took over the RDCs. The
diaphragms were completely removed
from “A” ends (baggage end) of the 6200s
so the driver could see better. Other
diaphragms were cut down and narrowed
as shown on page 40 of CN LINES
V12N2 with No. 6121. We cut off many
here at Moncton before they went to VIA.
The door chains are on ends of all RDCs,
but many hang in out of sight.”
Canadian National RDC-3 No. D-350,
ex-D-101(i), operated out of Edmonton for
many years and is pictured circa 1956.
Note the original built-up pilot and triangular
number boards, large end windows, black
“bug board” illuminated number boards on
the letterboard ends, roof exhaust stacks,
dual-bell horn, green-and-yellow ends with
the round monogram, and black lettering on
the letterboard. This represents well the
as-delivered look of Phase One RDCs on the
CNR, but by the time of this picture the RPO
section was being used for express.
—George Bergson photo
CNR No. D-354 is seen going north out of
Vernon, B.C., in a going-away shot on July
30, 1963. It has been retrofitted with full
pilots at both ends, but still had the single-bell
horn and no triangular number board on the
“B” end. It appears that many CN Phase
One RDCs were retrofitted with full pilots at
both ends as the original built-up ones did
not give much protection when rocks or other
larger obstacles were encountered on the
track.— Roger Burrows photo
David Othen adds, “RDC-1 No. 6100
initially had the white CN logo on both
the right and left sides of the cab front
above the end sill and the logos were
slightly smaller than those on other units.
Later it was repainted with the conventional
logo on the right.”
At the Shops
The CNSIG’s decal set 300-3de is now
available to letter CNR 1959-60 era piggyback
trailers (aluminum bodies, see diagram
below) in HO, with or without the
CANADIAN NATIONAL lettering. The set
includes tractor cab-door monograms and
numbers for the 1965 renumbering, along
with detailed instructions. This set is produced
exclusively for the SIG by Ed Barry
of Down East Decals.
4 CN LINES