``Midway``
History of Passenger Coach 1437
1923: Waterloo Central Railway coach 1437 Midway was built by the Canadian Car & Foundry for the Canadian Pacific Railway as heavyweight coach 1437. It was used for passenger service as a second-class car with high volume seating (88).
1970: The Canadian Pacific Railway rebuilt the car for use as a work service coach. All of the seats were removed and replaced with shelves for tools and other parts needed on the train. The coach was renumbered to 411723.
1975: Canadian Pacific reconditioned the car and returned it to its coach configuration for use on the Dominion Atlantic Railway mixed train between Windsor and Truro, Nova Scotia as CP 1720. The coach received bus seats instead of the shelves previously in the car.
1981: Following over 55 years of working on the CPR, the coach was purchased by the National Museum of Science and Technology for use on their steam excursions pulled by former Canadian Pacific steam locomotive 1201. The coach was given the name Midway.
2000: The Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society obtained the car, saving it from scrap. The coach was renumbered back to 1437, and continued operating with the name Midway. The coach was part of the train used on the SOLRS’ steam excursions.
2007: Midway was moved with the other SOLRS equipment to St. Jacobs, where it became Waterloo Central Railway 1437. This car has been used extensively on Waterloo Central Railway and has seen a lot of wear and tear.
2020: Passenger coach 1437 Midway is currently undergoing a full restoration at Waterloo Central Railways Restoration and Maintenance Facility in St. Jacobs, Ontario. It will be returned to its original configuration and extensive restoration work will be done on it’s roof, ceiling, replacement windows, cooling & heating systems, lighting and more.
Specifications
| Road Number | 1437 |
| Type | Heavyweight Coach |
| Builder | Canadian Car & Foundry, CP Angus Shops |
| Date Built | December 1923 |
| Lineage | Canadian Pacific 1437 Canadian Pacific 411723 (work service) Canadian Pacific 1720 National Museum of Science & Technology 1437 “Midway” Waterloo Central Railway 1437 |
| Capacity | 88 |
| Total Area | 720 sq. ft. |
| Dimensions | Interior: Width 9 ft., Length 80 ft. Exterior: Width 10 ft., Length 85 ft. |
| Other | No A/C. Windows open |
The historical information and photos presented on our website are gathered from several sources including historical websites, literature and first-hand accounts of volunteers, staff and industry experts.