Passenger Coach 3216 | Waterloo Central Railway

History of Passenger Coach 3216

1954: Waterloo Central Railway passenger coach 3216 was built by Canadian Car & Foundry for Canadian National Railways as lightweight coach 5472. It was originally used as a coach on the Super Continental.

1964: In July the coach was renumbered to 3250.

1966: In May the coach was renumbered back to 5472.

1978: VIA Rail Canada purchased the coach from Canadian National Railways

1983: In January the coach was rebuilt into a café coach. The baggage racks and a section of 4 seats were removed and were replaced with a café. The coach was renumbered to 3216 and worked for VIA Rail Canada for 10 years.

1993: In February Canadian National Railways purchased the coach back from VIA Rail Canada. Upon purchasing the coach, it was renumbered to 40113 and was converted into a work service coach.

2001: Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society (SOLRS) purchased the coach and saved it from going to the scrap yard. It was use on their tourist train on the St. Thomas Central Railway including in their steam excursions.

2007: The coach was moved with the other SOLRS equipment to St. Jacobs and became Waterloo Central Railway café coach 3216.

Present: Passenger coach 3216 is currently a regular part of Waterloo Central Railway’s consist used for charters, tourist trains and most importantly, bringing history to life.

Passenger coach 3216 (Matthew Whiteley photo) — WCR 3216 in 2019. Photo credit: Matthew Whiteley.

Passenger Coach 3216 (formerly CN 5472). Photo credit CSTM Archives; MAT-02833 — WCR 3216 (formerly CN 5472) in 1957. Photo credit: CSTM Archives; MAT-02833

Passenger coach 3216 (formerly CN 5472) in August 1977. Photo credit MBernero — WCR 3216 (formerly CN 5472) in August 1977. Photo credit: MBernero

WCR 3216 in 2018. Photo Credit: Matthew Whiteley

Passenger coach 3216 as part of a southbound passenger train pulled by locomotive 6593 on the Waterloo Spur.

Specifications

Road Number	3216
Type	Streamlined Coach
Builder	Canadian Car & Foundry
Date Built	1954
Lineage	Canadian National 5472 Canadian National 3250 Canadian National 5472 VIA Rail Canada 5472 VIA Rail Canada 3216 Canadian National 40113 (work service) St. Thomas Central Railway 3216 Waterloo Central Railway 3216
Capacity	72
Total Area	720 sq. ft.
Dimensions	Interior: Width: 9 ft., Length: 80 ft. Exterior: Width: 10ft., Length: 85 ft.
Other	No A/C Some windows open Snack bar area

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.