Travel back into the past: Celebrate CN?s centennial with this spectacular showpiece

A faraway whistle, the rumble of wheels coming down the track. For many Canadians, these are the sounds of history itself. A century of innovation and change has been delivered to our communities by way of CN?s rail network, which continues to provide us with vital goods and services today.

To mark CN?s centennial year, this commemorative piece invites you to take a (train) trip down memory lane.

A large (161.8 mm x 100 mm) oval shape makes this an exquisite portrait of our rail past, while a concave panoramic view pulls you deeper into the design. The star of this tribute is CN 6060, the last steam engine operated by CN; engraved in ultra high relief, the late-era locomotive is a standout symbol of rail history, especially when tinted by a nostalgic antique finish.

No. 6060

Built in 1944 by Montreal Locomotive Works, CN?s first U-1-f Mountain locomotive was initially used on short freight runs. Its sleek design and long-distance capacity made it well suited for passenger traffic, and the 6060 was soon assigned to CN?s prestigious Canada-wide passenger service until 1960. It was retired and placed on display in Jasper, Alta., until 1972, when it returned to service on tourist excursions in Ontario. Gifted to the people of Alberta in 1980, the 6060 (now known as the ?Spirit of Alberta?) is one of three surviving examples of the last steam locomotives purchased by CN before the age of diesel.

KEY FEATURES:

A premium offering that commemorates CN?s 100th anniversary by celebrating its legacy and place in Canadian history.

Our second oblong kilo coin: The oblong shape transforms this coin into a portrait of a bygone era, while its concave design pulls you deeper into the scene. The extra-wide dimension (161.8 mm x 100 mm) also allows for a panoramic view that hints at the grandeur of the Canadian landscape, with the train representing a key link between communities.

Ultra high relief engraving adds 4 mm of relief and keeps the focus on the train-shaped symbol of 100 years of history.

An antique finish imparts a sense of nostalgia to this design by engraver Matt Bowen.

DID YOU KNOW?

The first public railroad in Canada, the Champlain and St. Lawrence Railroad, was built in 1835 and inaugurated in 1836. It was purchased by the Grand Trunk Railway and eventually incorporated into CN?s network in 1923.

Bridges (like the one featured on this coin) are a key part of CN?s infrastructure, even today. CN maintains more than 7,000 bridges within its three-coast network, including the 160-year-old Victoria Bridge that links Montreal and the South Shore.

Today, the Rocky Mountain Rail Society (a volunteer-based non-profit organization) is working to restore Locomotive 6060 for use on tourist excursions in Central Alberta. Of CN?s original fleet of 20 U-1-f Mountain-class locomotives, only three remain and the 6060 is the only one in Western Canada.

DESIGN

Designed by Royal Canadian Mint engraver Matt Bowen, the concave-shaped reverse brings CN?s golden age of steam back to life. A panoramic view hints at Canada?s vast wilderness and features some of the scenery that defined a Canadian rail journey. Engraved in ultra high relief, CN 6060 rounds a bend as the steam locomotive hauls a line of passenger cars across a truss bridge. An antique finish completes the rail tribute and heightens the sense of nostalgia.