Canadian National 7312
No. 7312 inside the Strasburg Rail Road machine shops, July 2014
Type and origin
References:[1][2]
Power typeSteam
BuilderBaldwin Locomotive Works
Serial number32894
Build dateAugust 1908
Rebuild date1960
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte0-6-0
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Driver dia.56 in (1.422 m)
Adhesive weight153,384 lb (69.6 t)
Loco weight153,384 lb (69.6 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Boiler pressure165 lbf/in2 (1.14 MPa)
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size22 in × 26 in (559 mm × 660 mm)
Valve gearStephenson
Valve typePiston
Train brakesAir
Performance figures
Tractive effort31,000 lbf (137.89 kN)
Career
OperatorsGTR » CN » SRC
ClassCN: O-9-a
Power classCN: 30%
Numbers
  • GT 118
  • GT 1708
  • CN 1708
  • CN 7157
  • CN 7240
  • CN 7312
  • SRC 31
  • SRC 7312
LocaleCanada/Lancaster County, PA
RetiredJuly 1958
RestoredSeptember 1, 1960
Current ownerStrasburg Rail Road
DispositionUndergoing restoration to operating condition

Canadian National 7312 is an 0-6-0 "Switcher" type steam locomotive originally built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in August 1908 for the Canadian National Railway. It is owned and in active restoration by the Strasburg Rail Road outside of Strasburg, Pennsylvania.[1][2]

History

Revenue service

The engine was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in August 1908 for the Grand Trunk Railway as No. 118. The No. 118 was renumbered to No. 1708 in September 1919. In January 1923, the Grand Trunk Railway was merged into the Canadian National Railway. Three months after the creation of Canadian National, No. 1708 was renumbered to No. 7157, a number the locomotive carried until February 1952 when it was renumbered to No. 7240. In 1957, the locomotive received its final CN number as No. 7312.[2] In July 1958, No. 7312 was retired at Stratford, Ontario where it had been working as the shop switcher.[2]

Excursion service

In June 1959, No. 7312 was discovered by Strasburg Rail Road Vice President Bud Swearer who was visiting the CN yard at Stratford. The Strasburg Rail Road had intended to purchase a steam locomotive to power freight and passenger excursions and No. 7312 was of appropriate size for the operation. The Strasburg Rail Road negotiated the CN for the locomotive, which was ultimately purchased by a consortium of Strasburg Rail Road officials. Arriving at Strasburg in June 1960, the locomotive was renumbered to No. 31 and placed into service on September 1, 1960, becoming the first steam locomotive to reenter service in the United States.[1][3] The locomotive was purchased outright by the Strasburg Rail Road in 1968.[4]

Disposition

No. 7312 continued to remain in service up until early 2009 when it was taken off the active roster to undergo its heavy, extensive Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) 1,472 day inspection and overhaul.[1] However, due to the railroad's busy contract work and upkeep of their fleet of four other operable steam locomotives (GW 90, CN 89, Thomas BEDT 15, N&W 475) work was slow, if not non-existent. Since 2021, work began anew, with significant progress being reported. Work stopped again in 2022, but the locomotive was moved to the backshop in early 2023, with hopes of completion sometime in 2024.[1][5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "LOCOMOTIVE NO. 31". Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Canadian National Ry No. 31". SteamLocomotive.com.
  3. ↑ "Equipment Roster" (PDF). Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  4. ↑ Bell, Kurt (2015). The Strasburg Rail Road in Color. Scotch Plains, NJ: Morning Sun Books Inc. p. 25. ISBN 978-1-58248-479-2.
  5. ↑ "New Strasburg GM packs experience, skills". Trains. 23 September 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-25.


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