Dome Car Ads from 1948, "Ridin' High, Wide and Handsome!"

I only own a couple of Trains magazines from 1948 (May, June). Leafing through them, the full-page dome car advertisements were striking. For historical comparison, the CPR Canadian began service in April 1955.

When you're young, you have a higher threshold for the onset of discomfort!

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On the CBQ, no hats. 

On the WP, women shall wear hats.

Even travelling west from Calgary through the stunning scenery of the 'Canadian Pacific Rockies', most bottoms tire of the 'super comforts and luxuries' of dome car seats after two or three hours. 

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Arriving at Dearborn Station, Chicago in 1948. 

The Wabash may have owned more domes than 40-foot boxcars.

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Was this a Xerox which was smuggled out of the secret design centre?

These were eventually built by Pullman - although their final appearance was different. The only railroads sold on the Train X concept gave them names and operated them for about a year. They were the New York Central Xplorer (1956-1957) and the Dan'l Webster of the New Haven (1957-1958). 

1952 CNR Magazine - Motive Power Ads

In April 1952, major manufacturers of diesel-electric motive power placed full-page ads in the CNR's magazine for its employees.

However ...

from: Canadian National Magazine, April 1952; Canadian National Railways

The CNR's principal form of motive power was still in use (as seen above) and was also featured on the magazine's cover for that month - a Central Vermont 2-10-4 'Texas' class engine, the 700. At Transcona, notice the recycling of an axle - being held by its journal - as it is hammered into a new part. 

Before the era of free trade, national tariffs protected Canada's locomotive manufacturing industry to an extent. There were even time limits affecting how long a locomotive could operate on the other side of the border without putting its 'nationality' into question as far as trade laws were concerned. 

In hindsight, encouraging the manufacture of locomotives in Canada was no guarantee that the technological advances would be owned in Canada. A great deal of worldwide railway technology standardization has happened during the last six decades ...

from: General Electric 2015 Annual Report.

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Ready for the future or not: here are the ads which appeared in the Canadian National Railways Magazine in April 1952.

from: Canadian National Magazine, April 1952; Canadian National Railways

from: Canadian National Magazine, April 1952; Canadian National Railways

from: Canadian National Magazine, April 1952; Canadian National Railways

... home of the diesel locomotive.