Canadian National 3254
|
CN 3254 With a tour train at Steamtown | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Canadian National 3254 is a 2-8-2 "Mikado" type steam locomotive built in 1917 for the Canadian National Railway by the Canadian Locomotive Company as a member of the Canadian National class S-1-b . It is a part of the operating fleet at the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
History
Canadian National 3254 was built in 1917 by the Canadian Locomotive Company for the Canadian Government Railways where it was numbered 2854. In 1918, the Canadian Government Railways combined with the Canadian Northern Railway formed the Canadian National Railways. The 3254 was in charge of handling very heavy freight trains until the Canadian National retired it in 1958.
In November, 1961 it was sold to motel owner Willis F. Barron who moved it Ashland, Pennsylvania and intended to run the locomotive on the Reading Company's branchline that served the town. The tracks into Ashland were pulled up before Barron's planned venture could begin operation, so he had 3254 disassembled, moved via truck and reassembled at his motel to be used as a static display.[1] In 1982 it was sold to the Gettysburg Railroad. In the summer of 1987, the steam locomotive arrived at Steamtown after Steamtown traded Canadian Pacific 4-6-2 #1278 and cash for the 3254.[2] Because of 3254's high pulling power, it is able to climb grades at ease.[2]
Steamtown also has a Canadian National class S-1-d Mikado, the 3377, on static display. In 2010, the 3254's tender was rusted and leaking, so a new one was rebuilt (keeping the original underframe). The new tank was then put on the 3377's tender frame, and the 3377's tank was scrapped. 3254 was taken out of service indefinitely after the 2012 season.