Canadian National 47
Encyclopedia
The Canadian National #47 is a preserved 4-6-4 tank locomotive
in the United States of America. It is one of only two preserved CN 4-6-4Ts (CN #49 at the Canadian Railway Museum
, Delson, Quebec
is the other), and is the only Baltic type suburban tank locomotive remaining in the USA.
in September 1914 for the Grand Trunk Railway
as its number 1542, class K2, but became a CN locomotive after the creation of the Canadian National Railway
in 1923. Its CN classification was X-10-a. Along with its sister locomotives, #47 was based in Montreal and was used exclusively in commuter service. Following retirement in 1959, #47 was sold to F. Nelson Blount
, and it became a part of his Steamtown, USA
collection. #47 was the first locomotive to run as a Steamtown excursion locomotive, and was intended to become the primary excursion power. It had been given a fresh overhaul in 1958 and was in top mechanical condition when acquired. However, it steamed for only 5 weeks in 1961 as the ICC
denied its boiler certification. The maintenance records had been lost in a roundhouse fire in Canada, and it was not possible to verify her boiler condition to Government inspectors without an expensive overhaul.
in Scranton, Pennsylvania
.
Tank locomotive
A tank locomotive or tank engine is a steam locomotive that carries its water in one or more on-board water tanks, instead of pulling it behind it in a tender. It will most likely also have some kind of bunker to hold the fuel. There are several different types of tank locomotive dependent upon...
in the United States of America. It is one of only two preserved CN 4-6-4Ts (CN #49 at the Canadian Railway Museum
Canadian Railway Museum
The Canadian Railway Museum Musée Ferrovaire Canadien) is a rail transport museum in Delson/Saint-Constant, Quebec south of Montreal.-Collection:...
, Delson, Quebec
Delson, Quebec
Delson is an off-island suburb of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is situated 8 mi/13 km SSE of Montreal within the regional county municipality of Roussillion in the administrative region of Montérégie. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 7,322.On its small territory, Delson is crossed...
is the other), and is the only Baltic type suburban tank locomotive remaining in the USA.
History
The #47 was built by the Montreal Locomotive WorksMontreal Locomotive Works
Montreal Locomotive Works was a Canadian railway locomotive manufacturer which existed under several names from 1883–1985, producing both steam and diesel locomotives. For a number of years it was a subsidiary of the American Locomotive Company...
in September 1914 for the Grand Trunk Railway
Grand Trunk Railway
The Grand Trunk Railway was a railway system which operated in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, as well as the American states of Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The railway was operated from headquarters in Montreal, Quebec; however, corporate...
as its number 1542, class K2, but became a CN locomotive after the creation of the Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
in 1923. Its CN classification was X-10-a. Along with its sister locomotives, #47 was based in Montreal and was used exclusively in commuter service. Following retirement in 1959, #47 was sold to F. Nelson Blount
F. Nelson Blount
F. Nelson Blount was president and founder of Blount Seafood Corporation, and as a millionaire collector of vintage steam locomotives and rail cars, he founded Steamtown, USA, which was operated by the non-profit corporation, the Steamtown Foundation. Steamtown was a steam train museum that ran...
, and it became a part of his Steamtown, USA
Steamtown, USA
Steamtown, USA was a steam locomotive museum that ran steam excursions out of North Walpole, New Hampshire, and Bellows Falls, Vermont, from the 1960s to 1983. Founded by millionaire seafood industrialist F. Nelson Blount, Steamtown was operated primarily by the non-profit Steamtown Foundation...
collection. #47 was the first locomotive to run as a Steamtown excursion locomotive, and was intended to become the primary excursion power. It had been given a fresh overhaul in 1958 and was in top mechanical condition when acquired. However, it steamed for only 5 weeks in 1961 as the ICC
Interstate Commerce Commission
The Interstate Commerce Commission was a regulatory body in the United States created by the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. The agency's original purpose was to regulate railroads to ensure fair rates, to eliminate rate discrimination, and to regulate other aspects of common carriers, including...
denied its boiler certification. The maintenance records had been lost in a roundhouse fire in Canada, and it was not possible to verify her boiler condition to Government inspectors without an expensive overhaul.
Today
Today, Canadian National #47 is preserved at the Steamtown National Historic SiteSteamtown National Historic Site
Steamtown National Historic Site is a railroad museum and heritage railroad located on in downtown Scranton, Pennsylvania, at the site of the former Scranton yards of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad . The museum is built around a working replica turntable and a roundhouse that is...
in Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton is a city in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, United States. It is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the largest principal city in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area. Scranton had a population of 76,089 in 2010, according to the U.S...
.