Canadian National 6028

A 4-8-2 Mountain type. This locomotive pulled a test run consisting of six of the Royal Train cars on May 1 along the St. Lawrence River from Montreal to Brockville, Ont. This locomotive was also specially painted in a royal blue -- with the royal coat of arms -- for service on the Royal Train.

The locomotive didn't get to pull the Royal Train with Their Majesties aboard until the last few days of the Royal Tour.

Image: Bud Laws collection. More of Bud's collection can be seen at Old Time Trains

According to Raymond Kennedy of Old Time Trains, the photo was probably taken June 6th in the morning before departure for Guelph, having arrived the night before from Sudbury (all on CNR). Most likely the pilot train is loading at Union Station while the actual Royal train is being held out in the interlocking plant to the east. After the pilot train departs, the Royal train will leave.

Image: Bud Laws collection.

Photographed at Montreal, May 1939.

Photographed at Halifax June 15, 1939, the last day of the 1939 Royal Tour of Canada.

The stacks of the Canadian Pacific RMS Empress of Britian can be seen beyond 6028, waiting to return the Royals to England.

The liner was torpedoed and sunk 16 months later in WWII northwest of Ireland, the largest ship sunk by a U-boat during the war.