DAR0025

Dominion Atlantic Railway Steam Locomotive No. 25, Strathcona, Pontgravé.

Wheel Arrangement: 4-4-0

Built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in March 1901.

• Builder No. 18988
• 18" x 24" cylinders
• 66" drivers.

Built new for the DAR, No. 25 was named "Strathcona" for most of its career, but renamed "Pontgrave" in the 1930s. It was a near twin to No. 26. Prior to 1920, No. 25 was driven by engineer Will Taylor and hauled Trains 93 and 94 east of Kentville to Halifax until replaced by the slightly newer No. 27.(1)

It was scrapped in Kentville in March 1940.(2)

The name Pontgravé was also used on locomotive No. 534.

Name Origins:

• "Strathcona": Lord Strathcona, Donald Smith, one of the founders of the CPR.
• "Pontgrave": Francoise Sieur du Pont-Grave, member of 1604 Port Royal expedition, completed the Port Royal habitation.

Gallery

• 

  No. 25, "Strathcona" leading the Royal Train at Windsor Station in Windsor NS in 1901.

• 

  Pontgravé, locomotive No. 25.

• 

  Locomotives No. 2552, No. 999, No. 544, No. 32 and No. 25 in Kentville, 1937.

• Dar0005a.jpg

  No. 25 in Digby, late 1930s.

Other Known Photographs:

• Robert F. Legget Canadian Railways In Pictures, page 60, in Digby, late 1930s, but mistakenly in identified as No. 5, most likely because the 25 on the sanding tower is only partially visible and appears as 5.
• McQuinn Collection, Canada Science and Technology Museum, N-3993 (in Digby)
• Stephens Collection, Canada Science and Technology Museum, N-8348 (in scrapline, Kentville) and N-19238 (with boxcar, lettered Pontgrave)

References and Footnotes

(1) J.B. King "Pigs Ditch 2 Engines, Kill Midland Fireman: Writers Discourse on DAR Old Timers", Halifax Chronicle Herald.

(2) M. Allen Gibson, Train Time, Windsor: Lancelot Press (1973) page 39

Jim O'Donnell "Dominion Atlantic Railway Locomotive Roster"

Omer Lavallée, Canadian Pacific Steam Locomotives, page 348, 352