CANADIAN NATIONAL #15421

Builder: CC&F
Build Date: 1958
Type: Steam Generator Car
Status: Operational

For much of the history of railroading in North America, from the early 1900s through the 1970s, trains utilized steam to provide heat not just for car heating, but for wash water in restrooms, and hot water for dining cars and other needs. Steam was needed in passenger cars regardless of the weather. Some railroads, such as the Santa Fe, utilized a “Steam Ejector” air conditioning system on many of their cars.

When steam heated trains were first introduced in 1903, the steam used to heat the passenger cars was obtained from the steam locomotive pulling the train. As the steam era came to an end, diesel and electric locomotives used in passenger service were equipped with steam generators.

Diesel locomotives used in extremely cold climates, however, have very cold engine rooms due to the large quantities of combustion air being drawn into the engine room while running, which causes freezing issues with the small piping used on the steam generators. Another issue cold climate railroads needed to address was the need to run several steam generators to be able to provide sufficient steam to heat larger trains in very cold weather. Some railroads purchased or built special cars that contained two steam generators and a small electrical generator to provide needed electrical power. Canadian National Railway (CNR)’s answer to this problem was to purchase a fleet of special cars designed to house the steam generators. These cars were usually coupled directly behind locomotives on passenger trains, with steam lines running between the generator car and both the locomotives and the passenger cars, carrying the steam heat throughout the train.

The Monticello Railway Museum is fortunate to have one of these interesting cars in our collection. Our car, No. 15421, was built in 1958 by the Canadian Car & Foundry Company, also known as “Can Car,” of Montreal, Quebec. The 15421 was damaged in a fire during its later career on VIA Rail, leading to its retirement. It was acquired by the museum in 1994 when VIA began selling off their steam generator car fleet after their conversion to head end power (HEP), where electrical power and heat are supplied to the train by the locomotives. Museum members donated the funds to purchase this car as a tool, to provide both electrical power to our trains, and steam for our steam heated cars. Extensive work was required to clean up the fire damage, remove one steam generator, and install an electrical generator in its place for the three phase electrical power required for head end power. We returned the car’s exterior to its as-built appearance.