Hello all
A couple of weeks ago I asked the list about a dinner time story I had
heard about massive movements of Chinese workers in secret trains
during World War 1 (see note below). Although there were no responses
on the list, those I spoke with privately were doubtful, as was I. How
could such a massive operation with so many "juicy" details have
occurred without a lot of talk amongst railroaders and railfans over
the years?
Well, I don't know the answer to the latter question, but I've no doubt
now that the secret Chinese trains existed. I found an article in "The
Beaver" magazine about these trains:
Secret trains across Canada 1917-1918. Elizabeth A. Tancock. il. Vol.
71, No. 5, (O-N '91): p39-43
The article is based on the author's research at National Defense, the
National Archives and conversation with at least one surviving
participant in the operation. There's enough detail (including even
which military personnel used which berths in the tourist car at the
end of each train!) to verify the movements really occurred, right down
to names of the ships used, coded telegrams about arrivals, generic
train consists, names of commanding officers etc.
There are also some photos. The only photo in which one of the trains
is visible is too small to get the locomotive number, but it appears to
be a heavy 4-6-2 with Elesco feedwater heater and long haul (6 wheel)
tender. I don't know my steam engines well enough to ID the class from
this photo.
Based on the vast scale of the operation there must be significant
amounts of information in the CPR archives on the train movements,
support logistics etc, but I would not know where to begin to find out
more. I do know that the military records were declassified in the
mid-1980's, so the records should no longer be "secret" - just hard to
get to.
More info may be found in the cited article, or I can provide more if
anyone is interested.
Doug
Victoria, BC
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From: Doug Rhodes <drhodes@...>
To: C-P-R@...
Subject: Secret CPR "Chinese" trains
Date: March 4, 2000 11:11 AM
Hello all
Last night at dinner some one asked me to provide some info about the
secret CPR trains used to move Chinese labourers across Canada during
World War I. I couldn't, but I think I know some folks who maybe
could!
Apparently the CPR moved about 84,000 Chinese labourers from
Manchuria
to the Western front in France to relieve "our boys" of grunt work
like
digging trenches and hauling ammunition. They were brought over in CP
ships to quarantine at William Head near Victoria, then by CP
steamers
to Vancouver, where they boarded sealed trains of colonist cars, two
armed guards per car. They were only let out for air in remote areas
where no one could see them and escape attempts would be futile (and
probably fatal). They were put on CP ships on the east coast and
transported to France. After the war the whole process was executed
in
reverse, with a fine to the CPR of $1000 per head for any Chinese
worker not returned to China. Everyone concerned was sworn to secrecy
about the whole operation, which involved dozens of trains.
Well that's the dinner-time story, anyways. Does anyone on the list
know anything about this, or where it might have been written up in a
publication?
Doug
Victoria, BC
