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Caption: As 836 arrives in Redwater to switch the culvert plant, first up on the train is an unusual car in the form of C.R.C.S. 2. The initials are for Colonist Railcar Society. From the 1987 CTG, this sleeper came from the CPR (named Tracy) and was built in 1931. A quick look turned up that at one time, it seems, there was an effort to restore some of these colonist cars. Not exactly sure what happened over the next several years from this date to #2. There is a photo of it from 2011 at Stettler Alberta on the Alberta Prairie Railway, in CNR green, black and gold, but, wearing it's old CPR name Tracy. A very nice combination. In this photo, the units have picked up the empty gon at the culvert plant and are now pulling the train towards Redwater. Going to Redwater was all #2 got for an outing. The crew parked her in the siding and when returning at lunch the next day from eastern Alberta, the sleeper was taken back to Edmonton.
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The “T”-series 12 section / 1 drawing room sleepers were the last active 12/1 cars in service on CPR. I think their last assignment was the summer “Atlantic Ltd.” In the summer, most of the stainless steel cars were needed for trains to the west so these cars, as well as 10 roomette / 5 double bedroom “Grove” sleepers filled in on the East Coast trains. Further back, they served on many trains in all parts of Canada.
Thanks for all the info Robin. I will add, its appearance has changed somewhat from this photo. The picture on the Alberta Prairie shows that all the ribs and chimney on the roof have been removed. Also, the window pattern has been altered and the stuff hanging underneath seems to have had change made too. A lot of hard work has gone on and it sure looks snappy with the new paint job.
Here’s trailing unit CN 1069 17 years later as CN 1169 in a deadline at ONR in North Bay, ON
http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=6505