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Westcan Trucking was supposedly the 1st company to name the A-Train.

Discussion in 'Canadian Truckers Forum' started by Cameron E, Oct 8, 2022.

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  1. Oct 8, 2022 #1
    Cameron E

    Cameron E Bobtail Member

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    Im trying to find someone in the 70's who would have worked for Westcan at the time to confirm a claim from someone that Westcan Trucking first starting calling the A-Train, the A-Train. Can anyone help?
     
    Cameron E, Oct 8, 2022
    Cameron E, Oct 8, 2022
    #1
    Another Canadian driver Thanks this.
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  3. Oct 14, 2022 #2
    EvertonP

    EvertonP Light Load Member

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    There was companies bigger than westcan in those days like Merv Townsend , RTL and Freightways that were pulling A-trains
     
    EvertonP, Oct 14, 2022
    EvertonP, Oct 14, 2022
    #2
    Jubal Early Times, Cameron E, BigHossVolvo and 1 other person Thank this.
  4. Oct 16, 2022 #3
    BigHossVolvo

    BigHossVolvo Road Train Member

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    My dad was at Canadian Freightways in the early 70's, pulling A-Trains in a cabover. They called them A-Trains way before he started, or before Westcan was even on the scene.
     
    BigHossVolvo, Oct 16, 2022
    BigHossVolvo, Oct 16, 2022
    #3
    Jubal Early Times, Cameron E and EvertonP Thank this.
  5. Oct 22, 2022 #4
    Cameron E

    Cameron E Bobtail Member

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    Australia
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    Thank you very much, ill look into these companies. I wonder if ill ever find out who first coined the phrase "A-Train" and whether the A was chosen because it looks like the drawbar or not. Im trying to find out who came up with the term.
     
    Cameron E, Oct 22, 2022
    Cameron E, Oct 22, 2022
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    Another Canadian driver Thanks this.
  7. Oct 22, 2022 #5
    Cameron E

    Cameron E Bobtail Member

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    Jun 27, 2022
    Australia
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    Thank you for this information, ill take it onboard in my research. Do you think you could ask him if he knows companies who pulled A-Trains (and called them A-train, not Double bottoms which was another name for this configuration) before he started? Im trying to find out who came up with the term first and if its true they named it because the A looked like a draw bar or not.
     
    Cameron E, Oct 22, 2022
    Cameron E, Oct 22, 2022
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    Another Canadian driver Thanks this.
  8. Oct 22, 2022 #6
    Jubal Early Times

    Jubal Early Times Road Train Member

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    I think it has less to do with the looks of the dolly. There is an A,B, & C train. One of them had to be named “A”. It was more likely government regulators or manufacturers.
     
    Jubal Early Times, Oct 22, 2022
    Jubal Early Times, Oct 22, 2022
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    Another Canadian driver and Cameron E Thank this.
  9. Oct 22, 2022 #7
    AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    I've got a book about the history of trucking in BC from 1900 up to about the 70s/80s. No mention of the A-train in there that I can recall.
     
    AModelCat, Oct 22, 2022
    AModelCat, Oct 22, 2022
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    Another Canadian driver Thanks this.
  10. Oct 23, 2022 #8
    beastr123

    beastr123 Road Train Member

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    those were "doubles" equal length trailers
    An A-train is a shorter than normal lead trailer with a short single/single or single/tandem trailer connected with a pintle hitch to the lead.
     
    beastr123, Oct 23, 2022
    beastr123, Oct 23, 2022
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    Another Canadian driver Thanks this.
  11. Oct 23, 2022 #9
    EvertonP

    EvertonP Light Load Member

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    EvertonP, Oct 23, 2022
    EvertonP, Oct 23, 2022
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    Another Canadian driver and Jubal Early Times Thank this.
  12. Oct 23, 2022 #10
    EvertonP

    EvertonP Light Load Member

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    A train refers to the dolly not the combination.
     
    EvertonP, Oct 23, 2022
    EvertonP, Oct 23, 2022
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    Another Canadian driver and Jubal Early Times Thank this.
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