Canadian Locomotive and Engineering Co. Ltd. Archives

Canadian Locomotive and Engineering Co. Ltd. Archives

The Canadian Locomotive and Engineering Company Ltd. (CLECo) was one of Canada’s leading manufacturers of locomotives and heavy industrial equipment, based in Kingston, Ontario. The company played a key role in supplying locomotives for Canadian railroads and international customers during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Overview of the Company

• Founded: 1854 as the Ontario Foundry, later restructured and renamed.
• Headquarters: Kingston, Ontario
• Specialties: Steam locomotives for railroads across Canada, the United States, and abroad. Heavy engineering and industrial machinery.
• Legacy: Known for its contribution to Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) and Grand Trunk Railway (GTR) projects. Supplied locomotives to colonial railways in India, South Africa, and other global markets.

Archives and Research Resources

• 1. Library and Archives Canada (LAC): Collections: Records related to locomotive manufacturing, including engineering drawings, financial records, and correspondence. Historical documentation of contracts with railways such as the CPR and GTR. Access: Search their database for CLECo records under industrial history or locomotive manufacturing.  Library and Archives Canada
• 2. Queen’s University Archives (Kingston, Ontario): Proximity to CLECo:  Located in Kingston, Queen’s University has collections related to local industries like CLECo.  What to Look For:  Engineering and industrial records related to CLECo and Kingston’s manufacturing history. Access:  Queen’s University Archives
• 3. Canada Science and Technology Museum (Ottawa, Ontario):  Focus:  Features locomotive exhibits and holds engineering drawings, historical photos, and artifacts related to CLECo’s production history.  What to Explore: Examples of CLECo locomotives preserved in their rail history collection. Website: Ingenium: Canada Science and Technology Museum
• 4. Canadian Rail Archives: Partnerships: Many CLECo locomotives were supplied to Canada’s railroads, and their records may appear in Canadian railway company archives (e.g., CPR or GTR archives). Where to Search:
• • Railway museums such as the Toronto Railway Museum or Exporail: The Canadian Railway Museum in Quebec. Exporail Website: Exporail
• 5. Kingston Historical Society and Local Museums:  Resources:  Local institutions like the Pump House Steam Museum may house archives or exhibits on CLECo and its contributions to Kingston’s industrial heritage.  Contact: Pump House Museum
• Additional Sources  Books and Publications:  “A Century of Locomotive Building in Kingston” by Donald M. Wilson provides an overview of CLECo’s operations and legacy. Historic industrial journals or railway history books may also contain references to CLECo’s engineering innovations.
• Digital Archives:  Internet Archive or HathiTrust may hold digitized trade catalogs or historical engineering documents from CLECo.