Dorchester: Canada's First

Built by Robert Stephenson & Co. in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1836 for the Champlain & St Lawrence Railroad, "Dorchester" was the first locomotive to steam in Canada, on Canada's first "modern" railway.

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[foowashere]

A delightfully modest and sparse order specification. The letter is a more pleasing survivor than the nameplate, I think.
I guess the corresponding situation today would be some less computer savvy person ordering a laptop. “A laptop please, not too heavy—I travel a lot—and capable of running Photoshop.”
Thanks for making and sharing!

[steinskotmyr]

Just how i like the “first” stories. It’s a pity they’re ending too soon. Really love your work.

[Zeppflyer]

A very interesting history!

One comment on the sound effect: They overpowered the narration at some points, at least on my laptop speakers.

[ArthurAndNormandyFan]

Another locomotive I hadn't heard of before! Amazing video and great story.

[unanimousowlcouncil]

Fascinating it should have lasted as late as 1890

[Samṣtrainss]

There's no Canada like French Canada

Also never ceases to amaze me the levels of fancy hand writing you find going back... but then it would be literally beaten into them at school to get it PERFECT so is it any great suprise

[Doogle]

Thanks so much for the Canadian content. It was my first acquaintance with your channel. Great material, i will return. Cheers!

[vangc]

Cool. I didn't know about that one and I am a Canadian. Thanks for sharing.

[johnd]

Thanks for more new to me information.
The full size wooden replica at 4:04 and lack of coupling rods.
My suspected likely explanation of the lack of outside coupling rods is the difficulties, precision and complications needed to have any wooden outside cranks precisely quartered enough for the replica to move reliably when transported by rail when being dragged or pushed along.
Few, if any, in Canada would have much experience with outside cranks.
The further you go back I have come across the attitude that near enough is good enough for historical reenactments.


You also say the first modern railway in Canada. Were there any non-modern railways pre-dating this railway?

[channelsixtysix]

Wooden driving wheels .... That's what I thought you said Anthony. I had to play it through again to make sure. 02:40

[thomasshaftoe]

Do early locomotives from Australia, New Zealand and other Commonwealth counties please.

[sirrliv]

I've been looking forward to this episode. I'm surprised by how small she was; was she not even smaller than the Liverpool & Manchester's "Planet" upon which she was based? Also, why were her flue tubes made from brass rather than copper or iron? Finally, is there any surviving information beyond the paintings shown about her original coaches? I've always found it rather charming, if quite unusual for American rail practice, that she pulled compartment carriages, rather resembling in appearance those that would be used decades later on the Talyllyn Railway. It also seems that artists can't agree on whether or not these carriages had 2 or 3 compartments.

[jppicur]

In 1832 it was St. John's, Quebec. It didn't become St. Jean-sur-Richelieu until after the Quebec nationalists took over. Interesting pronunciation of "Champlain" -- we in Canada pronounce it Sham-PLANE.

The C&StL was no more than a portage railroad to avoid the long river journey and rapids between these two points via the St. Lawrence and Richelieu Rivers. At the time, this was the main route for commerce between Lower Canada and the United States. Due to the "Andrew Jackson" Depression starting in 1832, it took several years to raise the relatively small sum to build this wooden railway. Construction did not begin until 1835, as stated by Mr. Dawson.

[joshuaW]

I’m surprised is isn’t preserved with it’s tender.

[JohnDavies-cnro]

Thank you, Anthony. This is another one |I'd not heard of. Unfortunately the subtitles didn't work on this film, but the pictures are fascinating. I can understand the 'first modern railway' to run in Canada, given that the Hackworth engine ran on a private colliery line, so how does Dorchester predate that one, which you said was the first engine imported into Canada? Did Dorchester arrive later, but ran sooner? Or am I getting confused?

[stefkiro]

Great video.
Can you tell me where to find the 2 documents that you show at 1:27 and 1:37 ?
I would liove to have a copy of those.
Thank you

[johnjephcote]

i wonder how long those 'laid plates' lasted upon the pitch pine rails.

[Boppy-B-B]

This may be a silly question, but could it be possible to work out the number of tubes from the boiler diameter?

[Arkay]

"Little engines can do big things". Can you maybe do a video on michigan logging railways?

[FreedomLovingLoyalist]

Looks like the replicas Tender didn't last long.