CN U-1-a and U-1-b
# CN U-1-a and U-1-b

The Canadian National U-1-a U-1-b class locomotives were three subclasses of 37 4-8-2 Mountain-type steam locomotives built for the Canadian National Railways between 1923 and 1924 . They were retired between 1951 and 1962 .

Table of Orders and numbers :

| Year | Subclass | Quantity | Manufacturer | Serial nos. | CN Nos. | Notes |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1923 | U-1-a | 16 | Canadian Locomotive Company | 1696–1711 | 6000–6015 | 6015 preserved in Jasper, Alberta, since 1972 |
| 1924 | U-1-b | 21 | Canadian Locomotive Company | 1744–1758, 1764–1769 | 6016–6036 | All Scrapped |

## Accidents and incidents

On 1 September 1947, locomotive 6001 was involved in the Dugald rail accident. It collided with another CN 4-8-2 numbered 6046. No. 6001 was later rebuilt by CN.

On 21 November 1950, locomotive 6004, was severely damaged a head-on collision with S-2-a 2-8-2 No. 3538 at Canoe River, British Columbia. It was scrapped in June 1951 (as was the 3538). There was a gap of four years before the next U-1-a or U-1-b went: two were scrapped in 1955, four in 1957, six in 1958, six in 1959, eight in 1960, seven in 1961, and the last two, 6000 and 6001 in 1962.

## In art

U-1-a 6004 was the subject of a 1924 publicity poster by C. Norwich. It depicts the locomotive speeding along in the foreground, while in the background is a pine-covered, snow-capped mountain peak. Across the top is the "Canadian National Railways" logotype; across the bottom are the words, "Across Canada", and in the lower left, above the artist name and date is "The Continental Limited in the Canadian Rockies"

## Preservation

One locomotive has been preserved:

* CN 6015 (U-1-a) — Retired 1960; to CHRA, Delson, Quebec. On public display in Jasper, Alberta, since July 1972.
