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DAR0999
Dominion Atlantic Railway Steam Locomotive No. 999, Fronsac
No. 999 is notable as being among the first D10s to arrive on the DAR and today being the only surviving DAR steam locomotive.
Built by the Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW) in May of 1912 as CPR 1224, a D10h locomotive and was renumbered as No. 999 in March 1913.[1] No. 999 arrived on the DAR in May 1937, one of the first batch of four D10s to arrive in Nova Scotia, along with No. 1018, No. 1041 and No. 1090. No. 999 stood out on the DAR with its semi-streamlined skirt under the cab and its single cylinder air compressor. It was also the only DAR D10, along with No. 1090, to use a Johnson bar reversing mechanism which made both somewhat unpopular with crews due to the physical demands of the Johnson bar reversing action compared to the power reverse or screw reverse mechanism on the other D10s.[2]
No. 999 arrived with a CPR paint scheme and lettering but was painted in DAR's Land of Evangeline red paint scheme with a silver smoke box in 1938.[3] Although named "Fronsac", no name plate appears to have been affixed to the locomotive, based on known photographs. It is listed as a D.A.R. unit in both 1941[4] and 1947.[5] The locomotive was repainted in black with CPR lettering during World War II. The Evangeline herald was returned to the black paint scheme about 1950. A replacement tender was added about 1949 and the streamlined skirting was cut down. The locomotive was reassigned to the London, Ontario area in July 1953.[6] In Ontario service, a cross compound air compressor replaced the single cylinder compressor and the triangular number board was replaced with a simple flat number board. Near the end of its career the cowcatcher style pilot was replaced with a switching pilot.
No. 999 was donated by the CPR to the Canadian Railway Historical Association in March 1963.[7] Today it is preserved by Canadian Railway Museum, Exporail museum in Delson, Quebec and is the only surviving DAR steam locomotive. Displayed outside for several decades, it was moved inside for better preservation. However, she currently resides in building 6 at the museum which is off limits to the viewing public. Currently Expo Rail doesn't have the funds to restore her so she can go back on display for the public to enjoy.[8]
Gallery
Locomotive No. 999 takes water at the Windsor Water Tower sporting its new custom DAR paint scheme, circa 1938.
No. 999 at Truro on May 21, 1941.
DAR Locomotive No. 999 with ballast train, possibly at the Round Hill Ballast Pit, July 1941.
Locomotive No. 999 in Windsor with the L. A. Armstrong Apple Warehouse in the background, circa 1945.
Double-header gypsum train crossing the Avon River at Windsor, circa 1948. 1st engine is No. 1018. 2nd engine is No. 999.
No. 1041 taking on water at the Windsor Water Tower while No.'s 1018 & 999 wait in August 1949.
At Windsor in August 1949. CP Livery.
No. 999 leading a plaster train from Windsor to Annapolis Royal in August 1951. Note the D.A.R livery.
No. 999 in Toronto in May 1959.
No. 999 at the Canadian Railway Museum in Delson, Quebec, 1982.
At the Delson Museum 2001.
References and Footnotes
- ↑ Canadian Trackside Guide, (2018), p. 3-110
- ↑ Gary W. Ness, Dominion Atlantic Railway 1894-1994, page 76
- ↑ "New color scheme recently adopted for the front end of locomotives" George Bishop, Kentville Advertiser Oct. 27, 1938.
- ↑ 1941 Canadian Pacific Railway Summary Of Equipment, Form M.P. 14 - January 1, 1941, page 15.
- ↑ Omer Lavallée, Canadian Pacific Railway Diagrams and Data (Steam Locomotives), page 3.
- ↑ Ness, page 76
- ↑ Canadian Trackside Guide, (2018), p. 3-110
- ↑ Samuel's trip to Expo Rail on 1st October 2014. "When I first got their made several inquires about the engine..."
Jim O'Donnell, Dominion Atlantic Locomotive Roster
External Links
- No. 999 at Don's Depot.
- No. 999 with two different tenders on the DAR on Dominion Atlantic page of Old Time Trades web site
- No. 999 at Truro, May 21, 1941. Canada Science and Technology Museum image STR08402a.
