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At the start of the 1930s, the National Research Council had just finished building its first wind tunnel. The Ottawa facility joined the ranks of the world's best wind tunnels and soon became an invaluable research tool for Canada's top scientists. The facility was completed just in time for NRC to take on a major project with Canadian National Railway (CNR) – a project that would make tracks around the world.
Clearing the smoke
NRC's streamlined locomotive design was sleek, modern, and most importantly – safe!
Solving the smoke problem was no easy task. Nothing could be done about the prevalence of bridges and tunnels or the necessity for shorter smoke stacks. The only option left was to modify the shape of trains. However, the modified design would still have to meet various requirements, such as providing easy access to working parts.
NRC's engineers used the brand new wind tunnel to test different locomotive designs. They started with existing models to gather baseline measurements for comparison. The engineers then studied a wide variety of new designs, developing better and better wooden models until they had created an entirely new exterior shape for steam locomotives.
The final NRC design not only resolved the smoke problems that had initiated the testing, but it was also more fuel efficient than previous models, reducing air resistance by 33 per cent while continuing to meet railway safety and design requirements.
CNR approved the NRC design and recruited Montreal Locomotive Works to build models of the "semi-streamlined" locomotive, as it was called. CNR eagerly unveiled the new models in 1936 and used them in numerous promotions over the next few years in an effort to boost passenger rail travel during the Depression. The sleek, modern appearance of the new locomotives made them an attractive marketing tool.
Trouble on the tracks
- In 1931, railway engineers reported that smoke from the stacks of steam locomotives was getting into cabins, making it almost impossible for drivers to see. The situation was becoming a serious safety hazard.
- The problem was caused, in part, by the increased number of bridges and tunnels along train routes that forced trains to adopt shorter smoke stacks. When traveling at low speeds, the shorter stacks couldn't throw smoke high enough into the air to clear the top of the train, so it wound up in the cabin instead.
- Drivers could try to remedy the problem by adjusting their speed to move the smoke out of the cabin, but this required constant changes in speed that were simply too difficult and time consuming. Concerned about safety, CNR officials turned to NRC for a permanent solution to the problem.
A world-famous train fit for royalty
In 1939 the NRC-inspired CNR locomotive was featured at the World’s Fair in New York City.
NRC's semi-streamlined locomotive was soon the subject of international attention. From the United States, Europe and even the Far East, requests for photos poured in and the design was discussed in journals and technical publications. Big American railways copied the design, though NRC was not able to fight them in patent infringement lawsuits. Inevitably, Canada's other rail company, Canadian Pacific Railway, built trains in the same style.
In 1939, both CNR and CPR's streamlined locomotives were selected to pull the Royal train cross-country during a visit from King George VI and his wife, Queen Elizabeth. The trains were painted a regal blue and adorned with the Royal insignia for the occasion.
The same year, NRC's streamlined train design was featured at the World's Fair in New York City. The locomotive was celebrated alongside exciting new innovations including television and nylon.
By 1939, NRC had transformed the locomotive from a smoky safety hazard into a sleek and streamlined engineering showcase worthy of international admiration and fit for royalty.
