Canadian National Confederations

The Canadian National Railway took delivery of its first 4-8-4 locomotive (road number 6100) in 1927 and used the name "Confederation" (to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation) for this wheel arrangement from the very beginning. In all, 40 "Confederations" were delivered to CNR in 1927, 20, Class U-2-a, from the Canadian Locomotive Works and 20, Class U-2-b, from the Montreal Locomotive Works.

In 1929, another 20 "Confederations", Class U-2-c, came from the Montreal Locomotive Works and in 1936, another five, Class U-2-d, also from Montreal were added, making a total of 65.

Also in 1936, five very special semi-streamlined locomotives, Class U-4-a (road number 6400 through 6404) were built by the Montreal Locomotive Works. The design was the product of extensive research conducted by the National research Council of Canada in a study completed in 1934 with the purpose to improve efficiency of engines by reducing aerodynamic drag and enhance safe operation by improving visibility from the cab at lower speeds. 6400 is the only one of its class preserved.

Between 1940 and 1944 a total of 90 more 4-8-4s, in four batches, were added to the roster giving CNR a total of 160 "Confederations".

There are six surviving "Confederations"; number 6153 at the Canadian Railway Museum in Delson, QC, number 6167 near the CN station in Guelph, ON, numbers 6200 and 6400 at the National Museum of Science and Technology in Ottawa, ON, number 6213 at the CPR John Street Roundhouse in Toronto, ON and number 6218 at the Fort Erie Railroad Museum in Fort Erie, ON.

Class	Road Nos.	YR blt	Bldr	Drv	Cyl	BP	Weight	TE
U-2-a	6100 - 6104	1927	CLW	73"	25.5x30	250	385,590	57,000
U-2-a	6105 - 6114	1927	CLW	73"	25.5x30	250	396,390	57,000
U-2-a	6115 - 6119	1927	CLW	73"	25.5x30	250	385,590	57,000
U-2-b	6120 - 6139	1927	MLW	73"	25.5x30	250	381,900	57,000
U-2-c	6140 - 6159	1929	MLW	73"	25.5x30	250	383,000	57,000
U-2-d	6160 - 6164	1936	MLW	73"	25.5x30	250	390,000	57,000
U-2-e	6165 - 6179	1940	MLW	73"	25.5x30	250	402,700	57,000
U-2-f	6180 - 6189	1940	CLW	73"	25.5x30	250	389,330	57,000
U-2-g	6200 - 6234	1943	MLW	73"	25.5x30	250	399,600	57,000
U-2-h	6235 - 6264	1944	MLW	73"	25.5x30	250	400,300	57,000
U-4-a	6400 - 6404	1936	MLW	77"	24x30	275	379,800	52,000

CLW = Canadian Locomotive Works
MLW = Montreal Locomotive Works

Specifications
	Class U-2-d	Class U-2-h	Class U-4-a
Wheel Arrangement:	4-8-4	4-8-4	4-8-4
Length:			96' - 0"
Drivers:	73" dia.	73" dia.	77" dia.
Weight on Drivers:	237,600 lbs	246,100 lbs	236,000 lbs
Locomotive Weight:	390,000 lbs	400,300 lbs	379,800 lbs
Locomotive & Tender Weight:	673,840 lbs	677,890 lbs	664,000 lbs
Grate Area:	84.3 sq ft		73.7 sq ft
Cylinders (dia. x stroke):	(2) 25.5" x 30"	(2) 25.5" x 30"	(2) 24" x 30"
Boiler Pressure:	250 psi	250 psi	275 psi
Tractive Effort:	57,000 lbs	57,000 lbs	52,500 lbs
Tender Capacity:
Water:	19,200 gals.	14,500 gals.	14,040 gals.
Coal:	20 tons	18 tons	20 tons

Canadian National Confederations

Photos

Canadian National

Grand Trunk Western

References