Solid Casting.

One of the unusual features about them is the fact that the cylinders and underframe will be cast in one solid piece, weighing in the neighbourhood of 65,000 pounds. This great casting, which is normally made up of a number of massive sections bolted together, takes in the cylinders, main frames, cradle frames, and all cross ties, and thereby achieves far greater rigidity than is otherwise obtained. The casting for each engine will have to be made by a firm of specialists, and brought to Montreal on two flat cars, and a special crane will have to be constructed at the Montreal Locomotive Works to carry the load. The tenders will also have a similar casting, embracing the bottom of the tank and under-frame in one solid piece. The tender has a capacity of 12,000 imperial gallons of water and 4,500 of oil.

“Boosters” will supplement the pulling powers of the new locomotives intended for passenger service. These auxiliaries aid in getting a heavy load into motion up to twelve miles per hour, after which speed they cease to function. The “Booster” is a separate unit acting on the wheels of the engine's trailing truck.

The oil-fired boiler, containing over two miles of piping, is constructed wholly of nickel steel and designed to withstand 280 pounds boiler pressure. In addition to the nickel steel boiler and fire-box plate and stay-bolts, all forgings will be of a new composition low carbon nickel steel, which has been experimented with during the past year with good results.

Delivery of the new engines is expected to start some time in the early summer.