The National Film Board of Canada

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Another austere and homey train documentary from the good folks in the Great White North. This one features the glorious scenery of the Rocky Mountains along the Canadian Pacific Railway in British Columbia.

It’s winter. As the line’s premium streamliner, “The Canadian” transports passengers through the snowy wonderland in luxurious comfort, we go behind the scenes to observe the army of workers needed to keep the right-of-way clear and the trains moving. On time.

This movie short has it all. Meets, Pocket watches, Cab rides, Cabooses, First generation diesel locomotives, Speeders, Semaphores, Clearing Switches, Diner in the diner, and hooping up train orders.

Alllll Aboard!

LET IT SNOW! CPR #1432 (GMD FP7A October 1951 built as #4041) leads train #7, the westbound Dominion approaching Stoney Creek, BC.

Per my October 1959 Official Guide, both The Canadian and Dominion were domeliners that passed through Revelstoke mostly during daylight hours.

Pipe clenched firmly in his teeth, our Engineer has the best seat in the house as he guides CPR #2, the eastbound Canadian through a winter landscape. Whistling for a crossing, the Hogger checks his pocket watch and waves at a passing freight train.

Crossing Stoney Creek Bridge, the passengers have the second best seat in the house with a 360 degree view of the magnificent Canadian Rockies.

Harriet Van Johnson, our esteemed schoolmarm, announces the arrival of #2 in Revelstoke, BC with an old-fashioned hand bell; #2 is led today by GMD FP9A #1405 built 1954.

It’s the little things – like wiping down the handrails for boarding/detraining passengers. I WANT one of those Beaver Shields (seen at each car end). Great shot of two railroaders checking out CPR’s pride and joy.

Engine crew change.

Watch Out! Having the correct time is essential for a safely-run railway. Dig this wall of railroad pocket watches at the local jeweler’s shop where railroaders come to have their time pieces adjusted. Only official railway time will do.

A man and his canine companion walk the platform as #2 departs Revelstoke; Upstairs in the depot, the Dispatcher (DS) Harry Croft consults his timetable to line up a meet at Illecillewaet.

Albert Canyon depot with both station signals set to pick up orders (Copy 19). Note the enclosed water tank down the track. The agent takes down orders from the DS. I like the agent’s sweater!

Meanwhile at Stoney Creek station, the agent is taking down the same orders from the DS. You can see the agent climbed up on the roof to shovel off snow.

After repeating back the train orders, a copy is attached to a curved pole and “hooped up” to Train #7 at Stoney Creek. A similar scenario is happening back at Albert Canyon.

Here comes #7 led by GMD FP7A #1432. The Fireman extends his arm to grab the hoop, takes the meet orders and drops the hoop trackside. In the cab, the Enginemen read back the orders to confirm the time and location. #7 continues westward.

GMD GP9 CPR #8668 (freight train) is in the siding at Illecillewaet. A crewman stands in the snow to give #7 a Engineer’s side roll by inspection.

As Strathcona Park brings up the markers of #7, crewmen wave “all black” (nothing hot or dragging). The freight then lines itself out of the siding and proceeds on its way.

Between trains, track workers patrol and use long poles to knock down accumulated snow from signal and communication lines.

When I saw this guy, who actually climbed up underneath to get at the snow, I immediately thought of Wile E. Coyote. Yes, he did get a huge pile of snow dumped on him. I would have at least put up my hood.

There’s a whole lot of stuff to do keeping the railway fluid:

Semaphore signal maintenance.

Angle bars need tightening.

Switch lamps and snowsheds to inspect.

And all those switches to shovel and sweep out.

POW! The engineer puts the pilot plow to good use as the track workers stand clear.

Note the two heavyweight cars up front — This is probably #7 or #8. I think I can just make out “Dominion” on the drumhead of Yoho Park. By this date, The Canadian would have been all stainless steel from their 1955 Budd Company order.

Meanwhile, passengers on board enjoy food, drink, or just watching out the window as our documentary draws to a close.

Notice the sealed beam spotlight on the roof of the lead FP7A, along with all the other “winterized” hardware (icicle breaker bars, fan covers, etc.).

If you’d like to view the feature I reviewed yourself, the link is below:

That is, if it’s still on YouTube.

If you have ANY information about this movie you’d like to share, please contact me at: Lindsay.Korst@gmail.com, or leave a comment. Thanks and enjoy the blog!

THE END