CPR Brass Steam Locomotive
Bell #2329/2515/2552/2207
Of the twenty bells that I purchased from CP Bygones back in 1977, this bell is by far the rarest, having been installed on four different CPR lcomotives!
CPR locomotive #2329 was built by Canadian Pacific Railway Company, Angus Shops, Montreal, Quebec in 1926. This locomotive had a relatively short life and was scrapped in 1941 after only 15 years in service. The bell was kept as a spare and was then installed on CPR #2515 and this locomotive was scrapped in 1950. The bell was saved again and then installed on CPR #2552 until it was scrapped in 1956. The bell was finally installed on CPR #2207 until that locomotive's retirement in 1959 when it was then scrapped. The wooden crate shipped to me in 1977 has the number 2207 on the crate and the tag (see photo # 3) on the stem when the crate was opened which would certify that #2207 was the last locomotive on which this bell was installed. The bell will be shipped in the original crate together with the tag and clapper assembly. - Craig McDowall
CPR usually stamped every bell with the locomotive number on which it was installed. One can often observe the renumbering history of locomotives reflected on the bell. In this case, the bell carries FOUR numbers, which in no way reflect any locomotive renumbering history.
The numbers 2207, 2329, and 2552 are clear and unambiguous. Number 2515 is not as obvious. the “515” portion, though not of best quality, is unambiguous. The preceding digit is definitely not a “1”, cannot be a 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 since CP never ran any steam locomotive with numbers 4515, 5515, 6515, 7515, 8515 or 9515. The only 2 possibilities are 2515 (a Pacific type) and 3515 (a Consolidation type). Seeing as the other clearly stamped for digit numbers are all Pacific type locomotives, I believe the stamped number is in fact, 2515. And upon very close examination the number appears to be a 2 rather than a 3.
With this in mind, I have examined the history of each of those 4 locomotive numbers and believe the following to be the history of this bell:
The bell was originally affixed to locomotive 2329 when it was built in 1926. This locomotive had a relatively short life. It was scrapped in 1941 after a mere 15 years of service. The bell was likely in very good shape at that point and was kept as a “spare." Sometime after 1941, it was installed on locomotive 2515. Locomotive 2515 was scrapped in 1950. The bell was again saved and eventually installed on 2552 until it was scrapped in 1956. The bell then was finally moved to locomotive 2207 until that locomotive’s retirement and scrapping in 1959.
History and details about locomotives for this bell, courtesy Ray Verdone of cprsteam.org
Bell dimensions: 12" high & 16" diameter at the rim. Bell will be shipped in original wooden crate as delivered by CPR in the 1970's. Second box will contain the yoke assembly, photos of locomotive (if available), history sheet together with an assembly DVD. . Please contact for shipping estimate. Extra charges for customs will apply if a US buyer.
Please note that these bells have been lightly polished but most may have some nicks etc. due to decades of use especially around the bottom rims of the bells.
Free shipping insurance.
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