Canadian National 89

Canadian National 89
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Canadian Locomotive Company Serial number 922 Build date February 1910
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-6-0 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Driver dia. 63 in (1.600 m) Wheelbase 49.71 ft (15.15 m) Adhesive weight 120,600 lb (54.7 t) Loco weight 141,800 lb (64.3 t) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 10 long tons (10 t) Water cap. 6,000 imperial gallons (27,000 L; 7,200 US gal) Boiler pressure 170 lbf/in2 (1.17 MPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 166 sq ft (15.4 m2) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 21 in × 26 in (533 mm × 660 mm) Valve gear Stephenson Valve type Piston Train brakes Air
Performance figures Tractive effort 26,300 lbf (116.99 kN)
Career Operators GTR » CN Class GTR: GTR E-12 CN: E-10-a Power class CN: 26% Number in class 9 of 24 Numbers GT 1009, GT 911, CN 911, CN 89, GMRC 89 Locale Canada/ Vermont/ Lancaster County, PA Current owner Strasburg Rail Road Disposition Operational, in excursion service at the Strasburg Rail Road

Canadian National 89 is a 2-6-0 Mogul steam locomotive owned and operating at the Strasburg Rail Road.

History

89 was originally built in February 1910 by the Canadian Locomotive Company in Kingston, Ontario, for the Grand Trunk Railway as number 1009. In 1919 it was renumbered 911. In 1923, the Grand Trunk was merged into the Canadian National Railway (CN) with 911 being one of the thousands of locomotives working for this new railroad. In 1951, 911 was renumbered 89. Most of 89's career on the CN is unknown; it appears that it spent the latter part of its working life in Quebec before being retired in the late 1950s and being stored in a deadline of locomotives in Montreal.

In 1961, 89 was purchased by New England seafood magnate and steam locomotive collector F. Nelson Blount and moved to North Walpole, New Hampshire, in the United States. 89 found a home in the former Boston & Maine North Walpole roundhouse and starting in 1965, would begin operating on the Green Mountain Railroad and would be moved to across the Connecticut River to Bellows Falls, Vermont. 89 quickly became Blount's favorite locomotive and he would often be found at the throttle until his death in 1967.

In June 1972, 89 was sold by the Green Mountain Railroad to the Strasburg Rail Road in Strasburg, Pennsylvania. The move from Bellows Falls to Strasburg was overseen by Strasburg employee Linn Moedinger. During a stopover in Penn Central's Buttonwood Yard in Wilkes-Bare, 89 was stranded when Hurricane Agnes caused the Susquehanna River to flood much of the area. 89 spent several days submerged in the rail yard but emerged with little to no damage.

Upon arrival to Strasburg, 89 faced east and would remain that way until the turntable at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania was installed in 1973. 89 frequently operated in tandem with Pennsylvania Railroad 4-4-0 number 1223 on Strasburg's half-hour trains until it was taken out of service in the early 1980s for major repairs. During these repairs which lasted the majority of the decade, 89 was completely rebuilt from the ground up including major boiler and running gear work. Emerging from its rebuild in 1989, 89 returned to pulling the half-hour trains, being joined by former N&W 4-8-0 475 in 1993. In October 2003, 89 was modified and repainted to its 1950s Canadian National appearance with the tilted monogram logo. In 2008, 89's tender logo was re-lettered to read "Strasburg Rail Road," in keeping with Strasburg's policy of historical authenticity.

See also

• Canadian National 7312