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Book Review - The Armoured Train in Can. Svce

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Dougald
Railway Exec (Moderator)

1st Class Member

Canada

Posted - 09 Mar 2005 : 13:39:40

Some time ago, Roger Lucy, a military historian unknown to me, contacted me with some questions about The Grand Trunk Pacific and also about some railway equipment. After a number of discussions, he sent me the manuscript of a monograph he was writing and I had the opportunity to offer comment to Mr Lucy. Yesterday, I received the published version of his work.

This short monograph entitled "The Armoured Train in Canadian Service" is a soft covered 24 page book published by Services Publications in Ottawa. The book gives an in depth discussion on the development and operation of Canada's only armoured train. The book contains many fascinating and rare photos showing the nature of the armaments as well as the appearance of the cars and loco used in this service.

In the years preceding the Second War, Japanese fishermen routinely fished the coastal waters of British Columbia even entering the mouth of the Skeena River near Prince Rupert. This was also an area that contained a substantial number of Japanese settlers. After the Japanese invasion of Alaska and their establishment of bases in the Aleutians in 1942, fears ran high that an invasion on the west coast was imminent. Canadian military planners working with the American military on the defence of Alaska, proposed an armoured train to patrol the lower reaches of the Skeena River from Tyee to Prince Rupert. This train would use the old Grand Trunk Pacific mainline, built in 1916-17, that followed the river to the coast.

The plan was actioned during the spring and summer of 1942 with the train commencing operations in late summer. The book chronicles the difficulties in the development, the conversion work done at Transcona in Winnipeg and the inevitable cost overrun as the military requirement shifted. It also speaks at length about the train operation and its tactical military deployment. The train was withdrawn from service by the end of 1943 after Kiska had been retaken and it became apparent that Japan was no longer in a position to invade the west coast.

Mr Lucy has an extensive knowledge of the Canadian military and worked with National Defence in the research of this book. Based on my discussions with him, he is a careful researcher who doublechecks every fact and he has a keen eye for detail. He does not have the same in depth knowledge of railroads but his research quickly turned up more than most of us could ever know on the related railroad subjects.

The pictures in the book and their descriptions in text show an interesting armoured train composed of a light 4-6-0, followed by a gon equipped with a searchlight and a 75 mm field gun, a second gon with a pair of Bofors guns, a coach containing infantry, a commissary car, the commander's car, another infantry coach and finally another pair of gons. This train would make a fascinating model for the militarily oriented modeller.

Regards ... Doug

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jlcop
Conductor

1st Class Member

USA

Posted - 09 Mar 2005 : 19:23:01

Doug;
Thanks for the review, I've had an interest in Armored trains since Jr. High School. Someday I'll build at least an armored railcar.
John

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