Those of you who are history buffs might be interested to note that today marks 60 years since CP
ended the regular every day use of steam power on the Scoot, mixed trains 517 and 518 between
Brownville Juntion and Megantic, with the eastbound passage of train 518 behind P1d 2-8-2 5107
on Tuesday, March 29, 1960. The next day the train was behind an RS-3. During that week between
March 28 and April 2 a number of engines- 946-1072-2229-2663-3514- would handle a variety of
locals and yard assignments between Farnham and Megantic for the final time. 5107 made one final
trip west on the Scoot train 517 on Friday April 8 to Megantic. The next day, Saturday April 9, 5107
worked the Megantic-Sherbrooke wayfreight and later train 913 from Sherbrooke to St. Luc. This
info is compiled from "Magnetic North" by Roger Cook and Karl Zimmerman ( 1999 ), an article in
Classic Trains by David Plowden ( Spring 2010 ) and a follow up letter-to-the-editor by an ex CP
employee in CT ( Sum 2010 ). I will also note the the last "regularly scheduled passenger steam" is
usually attributed to the GTW commuter trains beteen Detroit-Pontiac-Durand MI; this service ended
March 27.
ended the regular every day use of steam power on the Scoot, mixed trains 517 and 518 between
Brownville Juntion and Megantic, with the eastbound passage of train 518 behind P1d 2-8-2 5107
on Tuesday, March 29, 1960. The next day the train was behind an RS-3. During that week between
March 28 and April 2 a number of engines- 946-1072-2229-2663-3514- would handle a variety of
locals and yard assignments between Farnham and Megantic for the final time. 5107 made one final
trip west on the Scoot train 517 on Friday April 8 to Megantic. The next day, Saturday April 9, 5107
worked the Megantic-Sherbrooke wayfreight and later train 913 from Sherbrooke to St. Luc. This
info is compiled from "Magnetic North" by Roger Cook and Karl Zimmerman ( 1999 ), an article in
Classic Trains by David Plowden ( Spring 2010 ) and a follow up letter-to-the-editor by an ex CP
employee in CT ( Sum 2010 ). I will also note the the last "regularly scheduled passenger steam" is
usually attributed to the GTW commuter trains beteen Detroit-Pontiac-Durand MI; this service ended
March 27.
Greg S