Comments on: This unusual car, CN 15006, was photographed on July 12, 1954 in Cochrane, Ontario where it was being used as an Instruction Car. It was built about 1912 by the Louisville & Nashville Railroad as a steam-powered, coal-fired self propelled passenger car. A few years later it was acquired by the Grand Trunk and numbered 3 but how the GT used it is unknown. It was off the CN roster by 1961.

By: Paul O'Shell

Paul O'Shell — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 16:59:05 +0000

And there is a view of a more modern version of CN 15006 at, http://cnrphotos.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=25644

By: Paul O'Shell

Paul O'Shell — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 00:35:24 +0000

Yes. There was a CN 15016 back in 1963 (retired in 1971) used by CN’s Research & Development Department as a Track Recorder Car. You can read more about its origins at
http://www.albertarailwaymuseum.com/rule-instruction-cars.html
My Grandfathers car was CN 15019 Rule Instruction Car (ex-CN 1497 ‘Stradacona’) built May 1912 by Pullman Standard (now on display in Capreol, ON as a school car. Which it was not). It roamed the ‘West End’ of CN’s Great Lakes Region (Ruel & Caramat Subs) for decades. Would sure like to see any photos of the CN 15019 if anyone has something.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 01:34:20 +0000

Wow. This is cool. I understand that CN’s self propelled cars in this era were all 150XX series cars.. and to think that CN created a new self propelled car in 2009 with a similar numbering scheme, 15106:

http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=12219

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1473218

Sadly it was re-numbered a couple months after entering service to 1501 and never made it to Canada with the original number.

I wonder if 15016 of the mid 20th century existed and what it looked like.

Thanks for sharing Julian! Very nice.