The Canadian Wheat Board (1/1973-present) |
BackgroundDuring the early 1970s a major shortage of grain cars developed in Canada. Railways were reluctant to invest in new cars given the artificially low rate for moving grain in Canada, and as a result the Canadian government stepped in to provide the desperately-needed grain cars under the mantle of the Canadian Wheat Board. CNWX cars were assigned to service on the Canadian National, CPWX were assigned to the Canadian Pacific, and they rarely wander from their assigned road. All three major Canadian builders were involved in building a fairly standardized 100-ton cylindrical car which has become synonymous with Canadian grain movements. A slightly smaller 70-ton aluminum version (4100 cu. ft. vs 4550 cu. ft.) was also constructed during the mid-1970s for service on lightly-railed Canadian National lines — both for the prairie branch lines and for the line to Churchill. Reporting marks added 1/1973. In recent times the Canadian Wheat Board has been attempting to sell the cars, but received little interest as their perceived value for the fleet appears to be higher than that of any potential buyer. That being said, there have been a few transfers of cars: Between 2001 and 2004 the Carleton Trail received 242 cars under their CTRW reporting mark, but most of those cars were subsequently transferred to new ownership in 2006, with only 22 cars remaining on the CTRW. CN began to list all of the CNWX cars under CN reporting marks in the 4/2003 ORER, and has begun a program (still ongoing) to transfer these cars to CN reporting marks. The 106000-108999 series aluminum cars were last listed under CN reporting marks in 10/2007, and apparently the decision has been made to scrap them instead. CN has also reported some cars under subsidiary reporting marks: the NAR reports the ALNX cars, although it continues to be uncertain that any cars have actually been transferred, and the DW&P reports 191 cars under DWC reporting marks since 1/2006 (which may include the former CTRW cars). CP has also reported the former CPWX cars under CP numbers since the 1/2003 ORER, but again has not specified how many cars have actually been renumbered. Briefly the former ALPX/SKPX numbers were also reported, but were quickly removed from the listings. In 7/2006 CP created the 392000-392048 series, which contains cars obviously of CNWX/CPWX origin. | Data has been taken from the following ORERs (MM/YY): 1/1973-10/2011. |
CNWX |
Number | AAR | Description | #Blt | In-Svc. Dates | IL | IH | Dr. | Cu.Ft. | Bldr. | Blt. Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
100000-100499 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 500 | 1/1973-in svc. | 47.11 |
| 4550 | MIL | 12/72-3/73 | Stl. re#CN 100002-100499 /03+. | |
100500-100925 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 426 | 1/1973-in svc. | 47.11 |
| 4550 | NSC | 11/72-2/73 | Stl. re#CN 100501-100925 /03+. | |
100926-101185 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 260 | 1/1977-in svc. | 47.11 |
| 4550 | MIL | 10-11/76 | Stl. re#CN 100926-101184 /03+. | |
101186-101285 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 113 | 10/1977-10/2008 | 47.11 |
| 4550 | HST | 10/77 | Stl. re#CN 101186-101285 /03-/08. | |
101286-101299 | " | " | " | 1/1982-10/2008 | " |
| " | MIL | 9/81 | Stl. re#CN 101286-101299 /03-/08. | |
106000-107599 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 1600 | 10/1975-in svc. | 46.0 |
| 4100 | NSC | 9/75-8/76 | Alum. 1 re#108998? /93, 1 re#108999? /93, re#CN 106001-107599 /03+ (assigned only?). | |
107600-108423 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 824 | 7/1977-in svc. | 46.0 |
| 4100 | NSC | 7-12/77 | Alum. re#CN 107600-108423 /03+ (assigned only?). | |
108998 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 1 | 10/1993-1/2008 | 59.1* |
| 4100 | NSC? | 9/75-8/76? | Alum. x106000-107599 series? /93, re#CN 108998 /03+ (assigned only?). | |
108999 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 1 | 7/1993-7/2008 | 59.1* |
| 4100 | NSC? | 9/75-8/76? | Alum. x106000-107599 series? /93, re#CN 108999 /03+ (assigned only?). | |
109000-109449 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 553 | 10/1982-in svc. | 47.11 |
| 4550 | HST | 8-10/82 | Stl. re#CN 109000-109449 /03+. | |
109450-109552 | " | " | " | 10/1982-in svc. | " |
| " | MIL | 10-11/82 | Stl. re#CN 109450-109552 /03+. | |
109554-109898 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 776 | 10/1983-in svc. | 47.11 |
| 4550 | HST | 8-10/83 | Stl. re#CN 109554-109898 /03+. | |
109899-110316 | " | " | " | 10/1983-in svc. | " |
| " | NSC | 9/83 | Stl. re#CN 109899-110316 /03+. | |
110317-110329 | " | " | " | 10/1983-in svc. | " |
| " | MIL | /83-1/84 | Stl. re#CN 110317-110329 /03+. | |
110330-110393 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 64 | 1/1985-in svc. | 47.11 |
| 4550 | HST | 9/84 | Stl. re#CN 110330-110393 /03+. | |
110394 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 1 | 10/1985-10/2007 | 47.11 |
| 4550 | HST | /85 | Stl. re#CN 110394 /03+. | |
110395-110686 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 292 | 1/1985-in svc. | 47.11 |
| 4550 | HST | 10/84 | Stl. re#CN 110395-110686 /03+. | |
110687 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 83 | 4/1985-in svc. | 47.11 |
| 4550 | HST | /84-/85 | Stl. re#CN 110687 /03+. | |
110688-110768 | " | " | " | 1/1985-in svc. | " |
| " | HST | /84-/85 | Stl. re#CN 110688-110768 /03+. | |
110769 | " | " | " | 4/1985-in svc. | " |
| " | HST | /84-/85 | Stl. re#CN 110769 /03+. | |
110770-110873 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 104 | 1/1985-10/2009 | 47.11 |
| 4550 | HST | 1/85 | Stl. re#CN 110770-110873 /03+. | |
110874-110929 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 56 | 4/1985-7/2009 | 47.11 |
| 4550 | HST | 1/85 | Stl. re#CN 110874-110929 /03+. | |
110930-110943 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 14 | 1/1985-10/2008 | 47.11 |
| 4550 | HST | /84-/85 | Stl. re#CN 110930-110943 /03-/08. | |
110944-110946 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 3 | 4/1985-10/2008 | 47.11 |
| 4550 | HST | /84-/85 | Stl. re#CN 110944-110945 /03-/08. | |
110947-111000 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 54 | 1/1985-7/2009 | 47.11 |
| 4550 | HST | 11/84 | Stl. re#CN 110947-111000 /03+. | |
111001-111029 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 29 | 4/1985-7/2009 | 47.11 |
| 4550 | HST | 11/84 | Stl. re#CN 111001-111029 /03+. | |
111030-111047 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 18 | 1/1985-7/2009 | 47.11 |
| 4550 | HST | 11/84 | Stl. re#CN 111030-111047 /03+. | |
111048 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 1 | 4/1985-1/2008 | 47.11 |
| 4550 | HST | /84-/85 | Stl. re#CN 111048 /03+. | |
111049 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 1 | 1/1985-4/1986 | 47.11 |
| 4550 | ? | ? | Stl. | |
111050-111051 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 2 | 4/1985-7/2009 | 47.11 |
| 4550 | HST | 12/84 | Stl. re#CN 111050-111051 /03+. | |
111052-111056 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 5 | 1/1985-7/2009 | 47.11 |
| 4550 | HST | 12/84 | Stl. re#CN 111052-111056 /03+. | |
111057-111060 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 4 | 4/1985-7/2009 | 47.11 |
| 4550 | HST | 12/84 | Stl. re#CN 111057-111060 /03+. | |
111061 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 1 | 1/1985-7/2009 | 47.11 |
| 4550 | HST | 12/84 | Stl. re#CN 111061 /03+. | |
111062-111189 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 128 | 4/1985-7/2009 | 47.11 |
| 4550 | HST | 12/84 | Stl. re#CN 111062-111089 /03+. | |
111190-111519 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 330 | 4/1985-in svc. | 47.11 |
| 4550 | NSC | 12/84-2/85 | Stl. re#CN 111190-111519 /03+. | |
111520-111643 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 124 | 10/1985-in svc. | 47.11 |
| 4550 | MIL | 8/85 | Stl. re#CN 111520-111643 /03+. | |
111644-111868 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 225 | 1/1986-in svc. | 47.11 |
| 4550 | MIL | 9-10/85 | Stl. re#CN 111644-111868 /03+. | |
111869-111877 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 9 | 4/1985-10/2008 | 47.11 |
| 4550 | NSC | 2/85 | Stl. re#CN 111869-111877 /03-/08. | |
111878-111929 | LO | Cov. Hopper | 52 | 10/1994-7/2009 | 59.0* |
| 4550 | NSC | 8/94 | Stl. re#CN 111878-111929 /03+. | |
111930-111960 | LO | Cov. Hopper | 30 | 10/1995-10/2008 | 59.0* |
| 4550 | NSC | 8-9/94 | Stl. re#CN 111930-111960 /03-/08. | |
112000-112026 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 27 | 4/1990-in svc. | 47.11 |
| 4550 | HST | 11/72-1/73 | Stl. xCPWX 600000-601073 series /90, re#CN 112000-112026 /03+. | |
112500-112645 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 146 | 4/1990-in svc. | 47.11 |
| 4550 | HST | 11/72-1/73 | Stl. xCPWX 600000-601073 series /90, re#CN 112500-112645 /03+. | |
395000-395999 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 1000 | 1/1980-in svc. | 47.11 |
| 4550 | NSC | 10/79-2/80 | Stl. re#CN 395000-395999 /03+. | |
396000-396799 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 800 | 1/1980-in svc. | 47.11 |
| 4550 | HST | 10/79-1/80 | Stl. re#CN 396000-396799 /03+. | |
396800-396999 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 200 | 1/1981-in svc. | 47.11 |
| 4550 | MIL | 2/80 | Stl. re#CN 396800-396999 /03+. |
CPWX |
Number | AAR | Description | #Blt | In-Svc. Dates | IL | IH | Dr. | Cu.Ft. | Bldr. | Blt. Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
60 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 1 | 7/2000-10/2001 | 59.0* |
| 4550 | ? | ? | Stl. | |
600000-600699 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 1062 | 1/1973-in svc. | 47.11 |
| 4550 | HST | 10/72-2/73 | Stl. some re# CNWX 112000-112026 series & 112500-112645 series /90, some ret.? /98-/00, re#CP 600000-600699 /02+. | |
600700-601073 | " | " | " | 1/1973-in svc. | " |
| " | NSC | 11/72-1/73 | Stl. some re# CNWX 112000-112026 series & 112500-112645 series /90, some ret.? /98-/00, re#CP 600700-601073 /02+. | |
601074-602473 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 2152 | 4/1977-in svc. | 47.11 |
| 4550 | HST | 3-11/76 | Stl. re#CP 601074-602473 /02+. | |
602474-603213 | " | " | " | 7/1976-in svc. | " |
| " | MIL | 5-11/76 | Stl. re#CP 602474-603213 /02+. | |
603214-603225 | " | " | " | 4/1977-in svc. | " |
| " | HST | 11/76 | Stl. re#CP 603214-603225 /02+. | |
603226-603713 | LO | Cyl. Cov. Hopper | 5382 | 7/1977-in svc. | 47.11 |
| 4550 | MIL | 5-9/77 | Stl. re#CP 603226-603713 /02+. | |
603714-604301 | " | " | " | 7/1977-in svc. | " |
| " | HST | 7-9/77 | Stl. re#CP 603714-604301 /02+. | |
604302-605301 | " | " | " | 7/1980-in svc. | " |
| " | HST | 4/80-2/81 | Stl. re#CP 604302-605301 /02+. | |
605302-606301 | " | " | " | 7/1981-in svc. | " |
| " | NSC | 9-11/80 | Stl. some 605302-605551 series cars re#CTRW 605302-605551 & CP 392000-392049 (via CTRW numbers), re#CP 605302-606301 /02+. | |
606302-606318 | " | " | " | 10/1981-in svc. | " |
| " | MIL | 9/81 | Stl. re#CP 606302-606318 /02+. | |
606319-606818 | " | " | " | 1/1983-in svc. | " |
| " | NSC | 8-10/82 | Stl. re#CP 606319-606818 /02+. | |
606819-607045 | " | " | " | 1/1983-in svc. | " |
| " | MIL | 8-10/82 | Stl. re#CP 606819-607045 /02+. | |
607046-607110 | " | " | " | 7/1983-in svc. | " |
| " | NSC | 8/83 | Stl. re#CP 606046-607110 /02+. | |
607111-607616 | " | " | " | 7/1983-in svc. | " |
| " | MIL | 9/83-1/84 | Stl. re#CP 607111-607616 /02+. | |
607617-607662 | " | " | " | 7/1983-in svc. | " |
| " | NSC | 9-12/84 | Stl. re#CP 607617-607662 /02+. | |
607663-607666 | " | " | " | 10/1983-in svc. | " |
| " | ? | ? | Stl. re#CP 607663-607666 /02+. | |
607667-608320 | " | " | " | 1/1985-in svc. | " |
| " | NSC | 8-12/84 | Stl. re#CP 607667-608320 /02+. | |
608321-608591 | " | " | " | 7/1985-in svc. | " |
| " | MIL | 10/85-1/86 | Stl. re#CP 608321-608591 /02+. | |
608592-608607 | " | " | " | 1/1995-in svc. | " |
| " | NSC | 9/94 | Stl. re#CP 608592-608607 /02+. | |
(*note: the exact group breakdown of CPWX cars is a little uncertain) | |||||||||||
This compilation © 2011 by Ian Cranstone