Abbotsford Art Gallery | Gallery | Max Jacquiard | 8000 on Stoney Creek Bridge

8000 On Stoney Creek Bridge

Canvas Transfer Edition
#17/200
Image size: 24 inches x 36 inches
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From the publisher: "The CPR mainline climbs westwards out of the Beaver Valley along a wooded mountainside, then crosses under Rogers Pass via the five mile long Connaught tunnel through the base of Mount MacDonald. Nearing the top of the 2.4% grade is a massive steel arch bridge across a 325ft. deep scar in the mountainside. Stoney Creek bridge, visible in places from the highway below, was built in 1893, replacing the original timber structure, and reinforced with additional arches in 1929 to handle heavier trains. In this scene from the early 1930's, such a train is working up-grade behind Canadian Pacific's heaviest steam locomotive, T4a # 8000. This experimental engine, which utilized steam at extremely high pressures, operated on the Mountain Subdivision from 1931 to 1936. Although the design proved to be moderately successful, its complexity made it difficult to maintain, and it was withdrawn from service and eventually scrapped in 1940."