The McGee Report on CN 4-4-0 #40 - Part 2

In 2007, Dave McGee of the Canada Science & Technology Museum prepared a comprehensive report that pulled together various sources of information on CN 4-4-0 #40 into one document.  This included a history of the locomotive specifications in its construction, references to the Portland Locomotive Works drawings, and a series of photos that chronicled the changes made to the locomotive over its life.

We continue below with Chapter 2.5 - Related Photographs.  

2.5. Related Photographs.
It was Portland Company practice to take a photograph of its locomotives when they were completed. No photo of Portland 233 has been found. However, many photos of related engines have been located, including nine photos of Portland engines delivered in 1873, of which five are from the same batch as Portland 233. The photos from the same batch include shop numbers 238, 244, 245, 251, 253.  The additional photos are of shop numbers 246 and 248, built in between the two parts of the 233 batch, as well as shop number 254, built right after the batch, and 272 which was built for the GTR. These photos are found in Appendix 6 and on the DVD.

Not all the pictures are from the same decade. Nevertheless, a number of conclusions can be reached about the original appearance of Portland 233.

To begin with, most of the pictures show a “vertical pilot” with vertical rails. Two show a “horizontal pilot” with horizontal rails (shop 246 and 245), but one of these is a non-GTR engine and the other is a much later photo. It is most likely that Portland 233 had a vertical pilot. However the casting list does refer to "horizontal bars" in connection with the timber for the pilot.30

All the early pictures show a diamond stack, rather than a mushroom stack (with the exception of shop 246). Three later photos show a straight stack, but these appear to be later modifications. It is most likely that Portland 233 had a diamond stack.31

All the earliest photos show the bell, sandbox and steam dome, in that order, with the bell at the front of the boiler. It is likely that Portland 233 had this configuration.

Several early photos show bright-work, fancy painting and shiny brass bands. It is likely that this was also true of Portland 233.

All of the images of trains from the same batch show round arched windows on the side of the cab. It is likely that Portland 233 shared this feature, although other Portland engines delivered to the GTR in 1873 had square windows (for example 246 and 272). The photographic evidence seems incontrovertible, particularly since the first known photo of Portland 233 (as CVR 40, see Appendix 6) shows round arch windows. The visual evidence is in direct conflict with drawing 1501P, which states that it is a drawing of the cab for many engines, beginning with Portland 191 and including Portland 226-245. Notably, drawing 1501P is not given in the casting list.32

Most of the images show solid truck wheels on the engine and the tender. This was likely true of Portland 233.

All the earliest photos of GTR engines show tenders with sides that are flared out at the top and have a slight scallop at the front. Portland 233 likely had a tender with these features. 


Go to "The McGee Report - Part 3".  "Chapter 3. Service with Grand Trunk Railway of Canada".

Back to "The McGee Report on CN 4-4-0 #40 - Part 1"