When I was younger, I didn't think much about this. Canada bordered the US. Its axle loads, clearances, couplers, etc. were like the US. But we were part of the British Empire. Why didn't we get British-designed locomotives? I only really started thinking about this by comparing Canada to Australia. Their early diesels were a mix of license-built designs and true imports, of British and US origin. As in Britain itself, their designs faded away. That's why everything I'm saying is in the past tense. The only British locomotives I know of in Canada in the 20th century: http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr0105/bl670.jpg North British 4-6-0s for CP. Note these weren't a British design. I believe the first were made by CP's own shops, others by Alco and Sächsische Maschinenfabrik (something equally rare; German-built locomotives in North America). http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=196572 English Electric and Beyer-Peacock boxcab electrics for CN http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=314109 Hunslet centercabs for Pacific Elevators And Newfoundland had a mix of Canadian, US and UK origin steam, so that contributed British motive power to Canada, but NF wasn't part of Canada when it was built. Why didn't we, like Australia, have an EE branch plant? And weren't some of our cylindrical covered hoppers and cabooses built by Hawker Siddeley? They owned Brush in the UK, but that didn't lead to locomotives here. I was wondering what an EE or Brush diesel for North American conditions would look like...
Triplex, Don't compare much between OZ and Canada even today. All things American in the early days would naturally "run" to Canada so (I like to use North American here) both countries would use the handiest locos and rolling stock. For the most part in the early days, and now, our countries have melded together out of convienience if nothing else. By the late part of the Industrial Revolution, say 1870, this melding precluded heavy shipments of locos to NA from Britian. The tracks were mostly laid across both our countries and it would have been economic disaster to 'go' British. Australia, in the 1870's hadn't the capabilities to build NA sized locos because of the need to import raw materials for production of locos. It was easier to load a loco on a sailing ship in Southhampton heading for Oz. The fact that the trip was mostly with the wind made this transit quite easy by this time. And, being in the Commonwealth Oz was a wonderful trading partner where Canada was not vis a vis locomotives. I hope this answers part of your question at least. Jim
Triplex, I can point you towards a wonderful example of "what if" in the English Electric 'Deltic' locomotive. The prototype was fitted with various features you might see on the E and F types of North American locomotive, such as the large headlamp. The design was deemed to be "too American" and the production batch, which became British Rail's Class 55, had considerable modification. In effect, too, the type was the A+A formation, on one chassis. Regards, Pete Davies
Why were Canadian locomotives so American? That is what you asked...right? As is typical of students these days, it is obvious we aren't studying history...anymore. Just an observation. Well!! Actually, the first locomotives in North America were English. The cost of importing them and the dangers with shipping across the Atlantic all contributed to developing our own locomotives. I think someone looked at it and said, "We can do better then that". The mean spirited western independence and the need to establish our own way and means of doing things. The overall design of American made locomotives proved to be hardier breeds then the refined and polished daisies from England. The industrial revolution. I hate titles like that because it sounds like there was a war and that's not how it started. Although, you can credit WWI, as it did drive us to improve and look for ways to streamline production thus the assembly line. Assembly plants jumped up all over the place along with steel mills, oil fields putting thousands of American to work. The Canadians basically, were part of the rank and file and jumped right in with the rest of us. There came a time though that Canadians wanted locomotives that were distinctly their own. As already state by Pete Davies. Not liking the like the ugly monsters the Americans were producing...although during WWII they ended up with a bunch of our ALCO's and Baldwins. Many were dressed out with skirts and hoops but you could still tell it was American. From the side door pullman and this is for free: According to historians, to whom's name I carry, they came from Europe and the British Isle's to escape the mind set of the day. Persecution, to seek relegious freedom and start witch hunts. Huunh? Now then it's caught up with us...darn foreigners. Never mind the white boy, they took to liking the native women and the native boys liked the white women....gosh... and here am I. So, why did you ask?
