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| Canadian Pacific 2317 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 CP No. 2317 at Steamtown in July 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Canadian Pacific 2317 is a G-3c class 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotive, built by the Montreal Locomotive Works for the Canadian Pacific Railway. [3]
After the end of World War I, the Canadian Pacific Railway began replacing their old wooden passenger cars with “heavyweight” six-axle steel passenger cars. In response to this, the CP's chief mechanical officer, William E. Woodhouse, designed a new class of 4-6-2 “Pacific” type steam locomotive that would be known as the G-3 class. No. 2317 was built in June 1923 by the Montreal Locomotive Works as part of the G-3c subclass, and it was put into service, pulling mainline passenger trains for the CP. [4] It was known to be stationed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, for a good portion of its revenue career. [4] After serving the CP for thirty-six years, the locomotive was retired from revenue service in 1959, and it was subsequently put into storage at Chalk River, Ontario. [3] [5]
CP planned to move No. 2317 to the Canadian Railroad Historical Association's museum in Delson, Quebec. [5] In November 1965, seafood magnate and steam locomotive enthusiast F. Nelson Blount purchased No. 2317 and moved it to Bellows Falls, Vermont, where the locomotive was added to Blount's Steamtown, U.S.A. collection. [2] Upon arrival, the locomotive received a cosmetic restoration and was put on static display with Blount's other CP locomotives, including 4-4-4 No. 2929 and 4-6-4 No. 2816. [2]
In March 1976, Steamtown crews began restoration work on No. 2317 with the hopes of bringing it back to service as quickly as possible, since a locomotive was needed to pull a bicentennial train known as the Vermont Bicentennial Steam Expedition, sponsored by the State of Vermont. [2] Due to weight restrictions on some wooden bridges the train meant to run on, restoration work on No. 2317 was halted, and CP No. 1293 was selected to pull the train, instead. [2]
The rebuilding process on No. 2317 resumed in June 1978, with the hopes of bringing it back to service by the Annual Railfan's Weekend in October of that year. [2] On October 1, 1978, the locomotive was fired up for the first time in nineteen years, and it joined CP Nos. 1293 and 1246 in Steamtown's operating fleet. During this time, the locomotive was painted in the Canadian Pacific gray-blue and Tuscan red livery, a livery it never sported in revenue service. [4] [3] Throughout the 1983 operating season, the engine, along with Numbers 1246 and 1293, were used to pull multiple excursion trips to bid farewell to Steamtown's home in Bellows Falls, before the entire collection would be moved to Scranton, Pennsylvania, the following year. The locomotive arrived in Scranton on January 31, 1984, and it was subsequently fired up four days later for the "Grand Entrance Ceremony" on February 4.
The locomotive was fired up once more on September 1 for the first Steamtown excursion in Scranton, which ran on the former Delaware, Lackawanna and Western (DLW) mainline between Scranton and Elmhurst, Pennsylvania. [2] In 1986, it was painted up in the DLW’s "Pocono Mountain Route" livery. [3] It remained in this livery, until after the National Park Service (NPS) acquired Steamtown in 1987. The locomotive was subsequently repainted into the livery it wore in active service with CPR.
The locomotive was present at the grand opening of Steamtown National Historic Site along with several other locomotives, including Baldwin Locomotive Works 26, Canadian National 3254, Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad 425, New York, Susquehanna and Western 142, and Milwaukee Road 261, and the locomotive ran several excursion trains on the former DLW main line. The locomotive subsequently settled down as Steamtown’s main workhorse, and it would often pull Steamtown's excursions in tandem with No. 3254 until 2004, when problems with its trailing truck, dry pipe, and tires were discovered. Between 2004 and 2007, it only pulled the "Scranton Limited" yard shuttle trains. After new tires were installed in 2007, the locomotive was allowed to pull a few of the longer excursions to East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, and the Delaware Water Gap. [3]
After the end of the 2009 operating season, it was used only sparingly as its flue-time was close to expiring. No. 2317 made its last run on September 5, 2010, during Steamtown's 2010 Lackawanna Railfest. After the event, the locomotive was placed into storage in the Steamtown Roundhouse where it is viewable to the public, it was previously waiting for Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) mandated 1,472-day inspection and repairs to operate again. [3] Steamtown originally planned to return No. 2317 to service again once the restoration of Boston and Maine 3713 was completed. [3] As of 2022, however, the locomotive still remains on static display, and Steamtown has stated that they have no plans on returning No. 2317 to service again anytime soon, since the locomotive is in poor mechanical condition and would require a more expensive overhaul in order for it to run again. Boston and Maine 3713 will be replacing both No. 2317 and No. 3254 as Steamtown's main attraction for mainline excursion trains. [3] [6]
On February 4, 1982, the Steamtown shop and storage building collapsed under the weight of three feet of heavy, wet snow caused some damage to some locomotives, including No. 2317. However, the damage was not serious enough to remove it from excursion service. [7]
On July 10, 1995, No. 2317 was returning a nine-car excursion carrying 572 passengers from Moscow to Scranton at 20 miles per hour, when it struck and killed two young boys (Paul Paskert, aged 12 and Anthony Paskert, aged 16), who were trying to pry one of their jammed ATVs from the tracks. The engineers were not able to see the boys on the tracks, and did not apply emergency brakes to avoid causing passengers to be thrown from their seats and injured. This was the 26th excursion run since the grand opening of the new park less than a month prior, and this was the first fatality Steamtown experienced since July 4, 1985, when an intoxicated woman was struck by a private venture train. [8]
On October 27, 2003, No. 2317 was pulling a train through the Poconos at about 10 miles an hour, when the tender and three of the nine passenger cars jumped the tracks. Fortunately, no one was injured, because the train was traveling at such a slow speed. The accident occurred one mile outside Delaware Water Gap in an area known as Point of Gap. [9]
Steamtown National Historic Site (NHS) is a railroad museum and heritage railroad located on 62.48 acres (25.3 ha) in downtown Scranton, Pennsylvania, at the site of the former Scranton yards of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad (DL&W). The museum is built around a working turntable and a roundhouse that are largely replications of the original DL&W facilities; the roundhouse, for example, was reconstructed from remnants of a 1932 structure. The site also features several original outbuildings dated between 1899 and 1902. All the buildings on the site are listed with the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Yard-Dickson Manufacturing Co. Site.
The Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad is a shortline railroad operating in Northeastern Pennsylvania, especially the Scranton area.
Francis Nelson Blount was an American businessman, railroad enthusiast and president and founder of Blount Seafood Corporation and the founder of Steamtown, USA, the Monadnock, Steamtown & Northern Railroad, and the Green Mountain Railroad. A millionaire and a railroad enthusiast, Blount's collection of vintage steam locomotives and rail cars—originally based in New England—was one of the largest ever assembled and still remains the cornerstone of the modern-day Steamtown National Historic Site.
The Green Mountain Railroad is a class III railroad operating in Vermont. GMRC operates on tracks that had been owned by the Rutland Railroad and Boston and Maine Railroad. The railroad operates on a rail line between North Walpole, New Hampshire, and Rutland, Vermont. GMRC's corporate colors are green and yellow.
Canadian Pacific 2816, also known as the "Empress", is a preserved H1b class 4-6-4 "Hudson" type steam locomotive built by the Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW) in December 1930 for the Canadian Pacific Railway (CP). It is the only non-streamlined H1 Hudson to be preserved.
Canadian National 3254 is a S-1-b class 2-8-2 "Mikado" type steam locomotive built by the Canadian Locomotive Company for the Canadian National Railway as the fifth member of the Canadian National class S-1-b.
The Canadian National 47 is a preserved class "X-10-a"4-6-4T type tank locomotive located at Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States. It is one of only three preserved CN 4-6-4Ts and is the only Baltic-type suburban tank locomotive remaining in the United States.
Meadow River Lumber Company No. 1 is a Shay locomotive at Steamtown National Historic Site, in Scranton, Pennsylvania. This 2-truck Shay was built by Lima Locomotive Works in May 1910. This type of locomotive was used primarily by lumber and mining companies. Some were used by other industries and on short lines. This is one of 77 Shay locomotives preserved in the United States.
Steamtown, U.S.A., was a steam locomotive museum that ran steam excursions out of North Walpole, New Hampshire, and Bellows Falls, Vermont, from the 1960s to 1983. The museum was founded by millionaire seafood industrialist F. Nelson Blount. The non-profit Steamtown Foundation took over operations following his death in 1967. Because of Vermont's air quality regulations restricting steam excursions, declining visitor attendance, and disputes over the use of track, some pieces of the collection were relocated to Scranton, Pennsylvania in the mid-1980s and the rest were auctioned off. After the move, Steamtown continued to operate in Scranton but failed to attract the expected 200,000–400,000 visitors. Within two years the tourist attraction was facing bankruptcy, and more pieces of the collection were sold to pay off debt.
Canadian Pacific 1293 is a class "G5d" 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotive built in June 1948 by the Canadian Locomotive Company for the Canadian Pacific Railway. Built for passenger service, No. 1293 served an eight-year career until being replaced by diesel locomotives where it was then retired in 1959. Purchased in 1964 by F. Nelson Blount for use at his Steamtown site in Bellows Falls, Vermont, No. 1293 was easily restored to operation for hauling fan trips for the general public. 1293 was later sold to the Ohio Central Railroad in 1996 for tourist train service. Today, the locomotive is out on display at the Age of Steam Roundhouse in Sugarcreek, Ohio.
Canadian Pacific 1278 is a G5d class 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotive built by the Canadian Locomotive Company for the Canadian Pacific Railway. After being retired from revenue service, the locomotive was purchased in 1965 by F. Nelson Blount for excursion trains at his Steamtown, U.S.A. collection. The locomotive was sold to Gettysburg Railroad in 1987, and it pulled excursion trains between Gettysburg and Biglerville, but it was subject to shoddy maintenance by inexperienced crews. The locomotive was retired from excursion service in 1995, after suffering a firebox explosion in June. As of 2024, the locomotive is on static display at the Age of Steam Roundhouse in Sugarcreek, Ohio.
Canadian Pacific 1246 is a preserved G5c class 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotive built by the Montreal Locomotive Works. In 1965, it became one of three G5 locomotives to be purchased by Steamtown, U.S.A. for excursion service. After operating in Scranton for a few years in the 1980s, No. 1246 was sold at an October 1988 auction to the Railroad Museum of New England with plans to restore and operate it, and it was initially put on static display. As of 2023, No. 1246 is stored at the Railroad Museum of New England.
Illinois Central No. 790 is a preserved 2-8-0 “Consolidation” steam locomotive, built by ALCO’s Cooke Works in 1903. In 1959, No. 790 was saved from scrap and purchased by Lou Keller, and he used it to pull excursion trains in Iowa. In 1965, the locomotive was sold to a New York businessman, who, in turn, sold it the following year to F. Nelson Blount, the founder of Steamtown, U.S.A.. As of 2024, No. 790 is on static display at Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Union Pacific 4012 is one of eight preserved Union Pacific Big Boy locomotives. Built in November 1941 by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) of Schenectady, New York, No. 4012 was retired in 1962 and donated to Steamtown, U.S.A, in Bellows Falls, Vermont, and later moved to Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where it remains today.
Reading Blue Mountain and Northern 425 is a G-1 class 4-6-2 light "Pacific" type steam locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Gulf, Mobile & Northern Railroad. After the GM&N was consolidated into the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio in 1940, the locomotive was renumbered No. 580 and served in passenger service before being retired in 1950. The locomotive is currently owned and operated by the Reading & Northern, based out of Port Clinton, Pennsylvania in excursion service. At the end of 2022, No. 425 was taken out of service for its mandatory Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) 1,472-day inspection and overhaul.
Nickel Plate Road 759 is a S-2 class 2-8-4 "Berkshire" type steam locomotive built by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio as a member of the S-2 class for the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, commonly referred to as the "Nickel Plate Road". Built as a fast freight locomotive, No. 759 served the Nickel Plate until being retired in 1959 and placed into storage. In 1965, No. 759 was purchased by F. Nelson Blount for display in his Steamtown, U.S.A. collection in North Walpole, New Hampshire. The locomotive was restored to operating condition in 1967 by New York commodity broker Ross Rowland for use in hauling his Golden Spike Centennial Limited, a special commemorative train that celebrated the 100th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1969. Afterwards, No. 759 pulled numerous excursions for Ross Rowland and Steamtown until being retired once more and placed back on display in 1977. As of 2023, the locomotive remains on static display at the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and sibling engine No. 765 continues to operate in mainline excursion service.
Boston and Maine 3713, also known as the "Constitution", is the sole survivor of the "P-4a" class 4-6-2 "Heavy Pacific" type steam locomotives. It was built in December 1934 by the Lima Locomotive Works for the Boston and Maine Railroad (B&M), hauling passenger trains around the New England region. In 1956, No. 3713 was given the duty to haul B&M's Farewell to Steam excursion between Boston, Massachusetts and Portland, Maine, marking the end of steam operations on the B&M.
Reading 2124 is a preserved T-1 class 4-8-4,"Northern" type steam locomotive that was built by the Reading Company (RDG) in January 1947, using parts from "I-10sa" class 2-8-0 "Consolidation" type locomotive No. 2024, which was originally built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in December 1924.
The Reading T-1 was a class of 4-8-4 "Northern" type steam locomotives owned by the Reading Company. They were rebuilt from thirty "I-10sa" class 2-8-0 "Consolidation" type locomotives between 1945 and 1947. Out of the thirty rebuilt, four survive in preservation today, those being numbers 2100, 2101, 2102, and 2124.
Grand Trunk Western No. 6039 is a preserved class "U-1-c" 4-8-2 "Mountain type" steam locomotive built in June 1925 by Baldwin. It served the Grand Trunk Western Railroad by pulling fast passenger and freight trains throughout the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, until the railroad decided to dieselize their locomotive fleet. During that time, it was leased to the Central Vermont Railway for freight service, only to become one of the very last steam locomotives to regularly operate in the state of Vermont. After being retired in the late 1950s, No. 6039 became one of the first steam locomotives to be owned by F. Nelson Blount, and it subsequently became part of his Steamtown, U.S.A. collection for static display. In 1984, the locomotive was moved along with every other locomotive in the Steamtown collection from Bellows Falls to Scranton, Pennsylvania, where the name would late be changed to Steamtown National Historic Site under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service. As of 2023, No. 6039 remains on static display at Scranton with very meticulous cosmetic care.
