The Canadian National was formed in 1919, The railway was referred to as the Canadian National Railways (CNR) between 1918 and 1960, and as Canadian National/Canadien National (CN) from 1960 to the present. As of 1950, the CN owned the second largest fleet of box cars in North America.
Pre-1943: Painted 'Box Car Red'.No herald.
Canadian National on two lines in the first panel.
Reporting marks of C.N. (with periods).
C.N. lettering on wood doors.
Gothic sans-serif lettering.
This is the only scheme used on wood or composite cars.
1943: White Maple Leaf herald introduced.
Tilted box with 'Serves All Canada'.
Remaining lettering unchanged.
1945: Green Maple Leaf introduced.
Tilted box with 'Serves All Canada.'
Some cars built 1945 to early 1946 with 'Canada's Largest Railway'.
1954: Modified Green Maple Leaf herald introduced.
Straight box with 'Serves All Canada.'
1957: Lines above and below reporting marks no longer used, including some composite cars.
1961: 'Wet Noodle' herald introduced.Dimensional data in two columns on right side.
@ 1964: Canadian law requires one side to be lettered in French as Canadien National.