PARSONS VALE

The Montreal Terminal Railroad was a joint property of the PV&T and the LT&L, operating terminal and suburban freight trackage in the Montreal, PQ area. For most of its life, it laboured in obscurity, but after the second world war it gained fame because it continued to operate steam up into the 1960s. After the LT&L merged with the PV&T, it was absorbed into the Parsons Vale and steam operations were discontinued except for three locomotives retained for fan-trips and special passenger services.

MTRR History

1850
Montreal and Southern Railway founded.
1864
M&S converted to standard gauge from 5" gauge.
1871
M&S purchased by the LC&T.
1880
  • MTRR formed by merger of Montreal and Southern Railway with PV&T and LT&L terminal services.
  • PV&T and LT&L locomotives pooled for operation of the line.
1912
2400 VDC electrification Montréal to United States border.
1913
MTRR 1-4, 700-hp steeplecabs, purchased for freight operations.
1918
Canadian Northern electrification, 2400VDC Montréal to Cartierville.
1919
MTRR Electrification converted to 3000VDC, except for Montréal Central Station and approaches. (Canadian Northern electrification remains at 2400VDC)
1930
MTRR 1-4 sold; PV&T class A’s and class B’s used for freight operations on electrified line to USA.
1938
MTRR 1-6, 2-8-2 steam, purchased.
1940
LT&L 300-306 transferred to MTRR.
1946
MTRR 7-9, 2-10-0 steam, purchased from PV&T.
1954
LT&L 1 transferred to MTRR.
1961
Merged into PV&T
1962
Dieselised.

MTRR locomotive roster, 1913-1966

No. Class Type Owner Assigned Disposition
165, 166 160 4-6-0 PV&T 1900 retired 1920
1-4 B-B steeplecab MTRR 1913 sold 1930
201, 202, 205, 212 A B-B boxcab PV&T 1930 201, 202 retired 1949, 205, 212 wrecked 1944
1-6 344 2-8-2 MTRR 1938 to PV&T 354-359, retired in 1962
7-16 344 2-8-2 MTRR 1938 retired 1961
200 344 2-8-2 LT&L 1938 to PV&T 344, in service.
201, 207 344 2-8-2 LT&L 1938 retired 1954
202-206, 208-211 344 2-8-2 LT&L 1938 to PV&T 345-353, retired 1962
17 192 2-10-0 MTRR 1940 from PV&T 196 1946, retired 1955, scrapped 1958
18 192 2-10-0 MTRR 1940 from PV&T 199 1946, retired 1958
19 192 2-10-0 MTRR 1940 from PV&T 200 1946, retired 1962
300-303 361 2-8-0 LT&L 1941 retired 1960
304 361 2-8-0 LT&L 1941 retired 1959
305 361 2-8-0 LT&L 1941 to LT&L 2 1956
306 361 2-8-0 LT&L 1941 retired 1955
237, 238 B1 B-B+B-B boxcab PV&T 1944 in service
240, 241 B1 B-B+B-B boxcab PV&T 1949 in service
20 GA 2-8-2+2-8-2 MTRR 1958 stored 1962
333-335 DL6 RSD-5 PV&T 1961 these units are ex LT&L 400-402
406-425 DL7 C420 PV&T 1962 in service