Canadian National 1392 Explained

Canadian National 1392
Powertype:Steam
Builder:Montreal Locomotive Works
Serialnumber:52649
Builddate:April 1913
Whytetype:4-6-0
Rebuilddate:1972–1974
Uicclass:2'C
Driverdiameter:63inches
Wheelbase:54.25feet
Engine Total:24.83feet
Drivers:14.5feet
Length:63feet
Width:10feet
Height:14feet
Weightondrivers:133000lbs
Locoweight:173000lbs
Tenderweight:124000lbs
Locotenderweight:297000lbs
Fueltype:New: Coal
Now: Oil
Fuelcap:Coal:
Oil: 3000usgal
Watercap:6000usgal
Boilerpressure:180psi
Cylindercount:Two, outside
Cylindersize:22inchesx26inchesin (xin)
Valvegear:Walschaerts
Locobrakes:Air
Tractiveeffort:30560lbs
Factorofadhesion:4.64
Operator:Canadian Northern Railway » Canadian National Railway
Northern Alberta Railway
Alberta Railway Museum
Operatorclass:CN H-6-g
Fleetnumbers:CNoR 1392
CN 1392
Retiredate:June 1958
Restoredate:1974
Currentowner:Alberta Railway Museum
Disposition:Stored, awaiting repairs

Canadian National 1392 is a preserved 4-6-0 "ten-wheeler" type steam locomotive. It was built in 1913 by the Montreal Locomotive Works originally for the Canadian Northern Railway before it was absorbed into the Canadian National Railway. No. 1392 became famous in later years for pulling a plethora of small excursion trains throughout Western Canada. As of 2023, the locomotive is owned and operated by the Alberta Railway Museum and is based in Edmonton, Alberta.

History

Revenue service

No. 1392 was constructed by the Montreal Locomotive Works in Montreal, Quebec in April 1913 as one of fifty-six H-6-g class 4-6-0 "ten-wheeler" type locomotives built for the Canadian Northern Railway (CNoR).[1] The locomotive was initially assigned to pull passenger trains throughout the Canadian Province of Alberta.[2] In 1918, the CNoR merged with the Canadian Government Railways (and later the Grand Trunk Railway) to form the Canadian National Railway (CN), and No. 1392 and its classmates were subsequently relettered under the CN flag. The locomotive was reassigned by CN to pull passengers and mixed freight trains throughout various parts of Central and Western Canada. As larger locomotives were added to the roster, No. 1392 was reassigned once more to pull trains on branch lines in Alberta and Saskatchewan. In October 1954, No. 1392 was converted to burn oil, as opposed to coal. The locomotive was leased to the Northern Alberta Railway (NAR) on May 31, 1957, where it was reassigned to pull short-distance work trains and weed trains throughout Alberta. No. 1392 was retired from revenue service in June 1958, and it was thereafter donated to the City of Edmonton, who decided to move it to the Edmonton Exhibition grounds for static display.

Preservation

During its time on static display, No. 1392 was meticulously maintained by members of the Canadian Railroad Historical Association (CRHA) Rocky Mountain Branch, in order to remain as clean and presentable to the general public as possible.[3] In 1970, the locomotive was acquired by the recently-formed Alberta Pioneer Railway Association (APRA), and the locomotive was thereafter moved from the exhibition grounds to the Association's nearby location at the Edmonton Transit System (ETS) Cromdale Car Barn with the hopes of restoring it to operational status, and restoration work began in 1972.[4] Work was completed in 1974, and No. 1392 was fired up and moved under its own steam for the first time under private ownership. The following year, 1975, the APRA relocated their equipment from the ETS car barn to a site that was part of CN's abandoned Coronado subdivision. The site was opened to the public two years later, with No. 1392 being one of the locomotives to be used to pull the museum's regular short-distance tourist trains.The locomotive subsequently became one of the most popular attractions in the association's collection, and it was later joined by CN 4-8-2 "Mountain" type No. 6060. No. 1392 subsequently participated in several special events during its excursion career. During the 1986 World Exposition, No. 1392, along with No. 6060, was sent to Vancouver, British Columbia to take part in the Steam Expo '86 event, where a plethora of other steam locomotives also participated.[5] Both locomotives returned to Edmonton, once the exposition was over. In 1993, the APRA, which by then changed its name to the Alberta Railway Museum (ARM), celebrated the 25th anniversary of its founding, and No. 1392 participated in the event. The locomotive also participated in the 35th anniversary in 2003.

In 2005, during the Centennial of Alberta becoming a Province, No. 1392 pulled a commemorative excursion train through Slave Lake, McLennan, Peace River, Edmonton, and Boyle. In 2013, the ARM celebrated No. 1392's 100th birthday. In 2017, several events were held to celebrate the Bicentennial of Canada, and the ARM celebrated by sending Numbers 1392 and 6060 to Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions' (APR) location in Stettler.[6] In mid-June of that year, the No. 1392 and its tender were loaded on two separate flatbeds, and they were shipped by truck, before they were unloaded upon arrival in Stettler.[7] Between June 28 and July 5, No. 1392 pulled commemorative trains between Stettler and Big Valley alongside the APR's own steam locomotive, 2-8-0 "Consolidation" No. 41 (formerly Mississippian No. 77), while No. 6060 was put on display.

After the commemorations ended, Numbers 1392 and 6060 were both returned to Edmonton. In November 2017, No. 1392 was removed from service and disassembled in preparation for its mandated 5-year inspection.[8] The locomotive passed the inspection with a minimal amount of components required to be replaced.[9] It was thereafter reassembled and repainted, and in July 2018, it returned to service to pull the ARM's tourist trains.[10] [11] In late 2019, however, No. 1392 was removed from service once more, due to leaky tubes being discovered inside its boiler. As of 2023, No. 1392 is sitting out of service, waiting for some minor repairs in order to operate again.

Film history

The No. 1392 locomotive has appeared in a few feature films and television shows since its return to service.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Canadian National / Canadian Northern / Central Ontario / Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific / Grand Trunk Pacific / Grand Trunk Western / Great Northern of Canada / Intercolonial / James Bay / Ottawa, Amprior & Parry Sound / Prince Edward Island / Quebec & Lake Saint John / Reid Newfoundland / Temiscouata 4-6-0 Locomotives in Canada . 2022-09-12 . www.steamlocomotive.com.
  2. Web site: Locomotives . 2022-09-12 . Alberta Railway Museum . en-US.
  3. Web site: History . 2022-09-15 . Alberta Railway Museum . en-US.
  4. Web site: Collection 15c: Museum Locomotive: CNR 1392 locomotive [MS587.C5.S-C1.0004] ]. 2022-09-15 . www.apraarchives.net.
  5. Web site: Steam Expo-- Expo 86 . 2022-09-15 . bobbea.com.
  6. Web site: Steam doubleheader for Canada's 150th – HeritageRail Alliance . HeritageRail News. 2017-06-28. 2022-10-01 . en-US.
  7. Web site: Alberta Railway Museum steam locomotive coming out of retirement for Canada 150 . 2022-10-01 . edmontonjournal . en-CA.
  8. Web site: Yakimets . Stephen . 2017-11-19 . What's Happening at the Museum . 2022-10-01 . Alberta Railway Museum . en-US.
  9. Web site: Yakimets . Stephen . 2018-04-17 . Alberta Railway Museum Update . 2022-10-01 . Alberta Railway Museum . en-US.
  10. Web site: Yakimets . Stephen . 2018-06-13 . President's Blog . 2022-10-01 . Alberta Railway Museum . en-US.
  11. Web site: Vintage locomotives retain their pull for volunteers . 2022-10-01 . AlbertaPrimeTimes.com . 9 July 2018 . en.