Comments on: Scale test cars. CN 527 is heading to Taschereau Yard with two Canac scale test cars in tow on a flatcar (CANX 52257 & CANX 52104 on flatcar CANX 61302).

By: RonaldB

RonaldB — Thu, 14 May 2026 03:47:36 +0000

This is a smart way to move these things medium to long distances. They were restricted to 30mph on CP. In July of 1981, I was called for the London Pickup out of Toronto (freight pool job) on the same morning my wife called to say she was going into labour with our 3rd child. The scale car was ahead of the van, and the hogger may have cheated just a little on the 30. Looking out the front door of the van at that thing wiggling like crazy was a bit scary. I did the natural thing, I turned the cupola chair to facing backward and looked for dragging equipment instead. We set the thing off at Guelph Jct (it was destined for Guelph). The rest of the trip was uneventful, and I made it to the hospital about 5 minutes AFTER the baby arrived.

By: Stuart Streit

Stuart Streit — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 18:05:34 +0000

Less wear and tear atop the flat car!:)

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 18:58:19 +0000

@stuart. Yes the scale test cars are old, but they are now put in flat cars to be moved as their short wheelbase is prone to derailment at higher speeds and they railroad likes to keep its trains at a certain speed. Also there are not many parts needed for thar car as its just ballast made of concrete and few moving parts

By: Stuart Streit

Stuart Streit — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 17:44:10 +0000

Do folks realize these diminutive devices are closing in being a century old??!! They’re like rolling history! Show me another transportation artifact this old still in active use. Also explains the flat car ride and kid gloves. Guessing replacement parts are something of a challenge!

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 16:15:50 +0000

Phiffer it is not your decision, and you didn’t have to click or view it, now did you?

By: mberry

mberry — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 17:03:58 +0000

This is not enginepictures.ca last time I checked.

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 16:05:43 +0000

@Phiffer.. this is a rail picture site. Not just specifically for locomotives!

By: Phiffer

Phiffer — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 15:59:04 +0000

I dont like seeing freight cars on RP.ca. This is an engine site!

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Sun, 10 Jan 2016 00:53:04 +0000

Thank God they put them on flat cars now and have for quite awhile. I hated having them on my trains, so happy they are not in my consists anymore.
When they were on our trains they had to be marshalled one car from the tail end and yes they have no airbrakes and the last car on the train must have airbrakes. We also had speed restrictions with them because of the short wheelbase. The only time you will see them as a part of a train these days is usually on roadswitchers where they are taken to customers sidings that have a car scale that needs to be calibrated. Other than that, they are moved on flatcars now!

By: mberry

mberry — Sat, 09 Jan 2016 16:29:06 +0000

Not sure, maybe since there was two it was easier to put them on a flatcar.