Cordova Bay Station - CPR Momentum

2003-

Issue 1 June 2003

Canadian Pacific Railway Employee Communications
Room 500 401-9th Ave S.W. Calgary AB T2P 4Z4

THE SAGA OF JOHNNY & MOLLY
By Doug Cooke

Johnny gives Molly a little tender loving care in Chipman, New Brunswick.

Meyer's epitaph at Riverbank Cemetery.

Doug Cooke is a manager with CPR labour relations in Calgary. The facts and photos for this story are courtesy of his friend, Karl Sutherland. Karl - born in McAdam, N.B., and now retired after a 47-year career with CPR - worked as roadmaster, senior manager with engineering services, and director of maintenance In memory of Karls son, Randy who died in 2002 after a courageous battle with leukemia.

In memory of Karls son, Randy who died in 2002 after a courageous battle with leukemia.

of way for the system. His father-in-law, Ernest Folkins, was the conductor on the train that for many years was piloted by Johnny Myers, on old Locomotive 29, along the Norton Branch.

Locomotive 29, standing proudly in front of CPR's headquarters at Calgary's Gulf Canada Square, could tell many a tale from her 116-year past. Built in 1887, in the company's own Montreal shops, she had the honour of being the locomotive that closed out the steam era for CPR, on 6 November 1960.

But her most compelling yarn is the story of her life with CPR locomotive engineer Johnny Myers. Johnny worked the old Minto Subdivision between Fredericton, South Devon, and Norton, in New Brunswick. The line between Chipman and Norton was known locally as the Norton Branch. That was 29's steaming grounds for more than 25 years, from 1934 to 1959.

The folks in Norton called her "Molly"; and Molly was Johnny Myers' locomotive. For two decades and more, engineer Johnny pampered her like a baby. He would often remain at the engine shed after book-off time, inspecting, tightening, lubricating, and cleaning his beloved 29. He was often late for dinner, even though his family lived trackside.

In 1959, when two diesel locomotives replaced 29 and her sister locomotives 136 and 144 on the Norton Branch, John was inconsolable. Try as he might to adjust to the new motive power, he longed for the days now gone, when everyone would wave as he and Molly steamed by. He retired before the year was out. Some say, he left with a broken heart at the unceremonious departure from active service of dear Molly.

Johnny Myers died in 1985 and was buried in Riverbank Cemetery in Norton, King County, New Brunswick. Locomotive 29 is etched into the black marble of his headstone. And his epitaph reads: "Engineer in the Days of Steam - An Era Gone By."