The Canadian Pacific N-2-a, b, and c was a class of 2-8-0 "Consolidation" type steam locomotives built between 1912 and 1914. A total of 199 were produced, numbered 3600 through 3799 by the Canadian Pacific Railway and used almost everywhere around the system.

History Development and design The engines were ordered when Canadian Pacific sought bigger locomotives for their mainline. Their current fleet were wearing out and too small for the loads being hauled.

Construction While majority of the class was constructed by the Montreal Locomotive Works, orders were also placed with the Canadian Locomotive Company and Canadian Car and Foundry, with one locomotive being built by the CPR Angus Shops.

Modifications These locomotives were originally built under the N3 class beginning in 1909 and numbered 3800 through 3999. They were renumbered between 1920 and 1929 to the 3600s and 3700s. Most of the class were converted to oil-firing in the later years.

In the 1920s onward Canadian Pacific saw an increasing need for larger locomotives. Most of this class were relocated to either CP's Ogden or Montreal shops for a short time while 65 were converted to Class P1n 2-8-2, renumbered 5200–5264 in 1946. A larger boiler was added as well as a trailing truck and a new cab. They could haul several thousand pounds more than the original 2-8-0s could. Many of this class were converted, although not all, as many survived as 2-8-0s until the end of steam on CP.

Preservation Of the 199 locomotives that were built, only two remain in existence. +Preserved N2 locomotivesTypeNumberImageDate builtSerial numberLocationCoordinatesNotesN2a3651July 191048339Lethbridge Station, Lethbridge, AlbertaOn static display behind the station.N2b3716October 191251628Kettle Valley Steam Railway, Summerland, British ColumbiaHauls excursion trains since 2003. Previously served as a backup locomotive for Canadian Pacific No. 2860 from 1975 to 2001.

See also

List of heritage railways in Canada Kettle Valley Steam Railway

References

Further reading

External links Kettle Valley Steam Railway Kettle Valley Consolidations, part 2 Kettle Valley Model Railway Kettle Valley Consolidations, part 3 Kettle Valley Model Railway "steamlocomotive.com"