The Canadian National Confederation Locomotive type or the Canadian National U Classes is a type of Canadian steam locomotive with a 4-8-4 wheel arrangement used on Canadian railways. Most were built by the Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW) in Montreal, Quebec, and the Canadian Locomotive Company (CLC) in Kingston, Ontario, for the Canadian National Railway (CNR). The "Confederation" type was later given the more common designation "Northern" type. They were the backbone of the CNR locomotive fleet from the 1930s to the 1950s.[1] Eight locomotives of this type have been preserved from the CNR and two from the CPR. They were built from 1927 until 1943 and 1944 during World War 2 against the Axis when Canada had to provide the UK with metal for the Allied Forces of World War II against the Axis Forces .
CN 6400 used roller-bearing boxes on all running and tender axles, with bearings made by SKF of Sweden.[2] CN ordered 155 U-2 classes from 1927 to 1944. CN also ordered 5 U-4a locomotives in 1936, and the GTW ordered 36 U-3 classes from 1927 to 1943. The GTW ordered 5 U-4b locomotives in 1938. In total, 203 were built for CN and the GTW. All 203 locomotives remained in service until they were retired between 1953 and 1959. A few have survived into preservation, CN 6153, CN 6167, CN 6200, CN 6213, CN 6218 and CN 6400, and two from the GTW survived as well, GTW 6323 and GTW 6325.
In addition, the Canadian Pacific Railway built its own K1a 4-8-4 locomotives in 1928 at their own Angus Shops. They were numbered 3100–3101, the only two built. Both remained in service until being retired in 1955, and both are preserved.
The character Vinnie (voiced by John Schwab) from the popular series Thomas and Friends is based on a Canadian National U-4-a, using the number of a GTW U-4-b.[citation needed]
CN 6167 Class U-2-e on display at Guelph, Ontario
CN 6400 Class U-4-a on display at the 1939 New York World's Fair "Railroads on Parade" exhibit
CN 6218 pulling an excursion train out of Chicago, Illinois, in 1966
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