This list is the place where you can discuss Canadian freight cars and how those cars were used. Canadian freight cars and operations is dedicated to the discussion and study of Canadian freight cars and their operations. For the modeler, the list is a place to discuss current, past and future models and how to make these models better represent Canadian cars. For museums and others with prototype equipment, we will strive to help see these are restored to a historically correct state.

Over the years Canada has had a lot of unique cars and many very specialized operations. Canadian National and Canadian Pacific while operating in the same areas for the most part met business with considerably different car fleets - and sometimes the same business would be met with different cars in different parts of Canada. Other railways had their own solutions to moving traffic.

With the development of the west large volumes of grain were and still are moved by rail. Canadian railways developed a specialized fleet to move this tonnage. To move the grain a zone system was set up and grain moved from different areas on different days. Fleets of cars were developed to move coal and ore, In both of these movements, the fleets of CNR and CPR were considerably different. These are areas that will be open for discussion.

At one time, vast fleets of privately owned tank cars provided transportation for a large segment of the fuel and chemicals produced. The list plans on exploring these. There were other private ownership cars used for moving machinery and other products. Even grain in later years started moving in non railway owned cars.

The Canadian freight car fleet and its operations - the dynamics of how it developed and was utilized - are important to both modelling Canada's railways and to understanding their history.

As with most lists we ask that you edit your replies to cut down repetition and to remember that flaming is not permitted.

The Moderation Team