Grand Trunk Western Class K-4a
Grand Trunk Western 5629
Type and origin
References:[1][2]
Power typeSteam
BuilderAmerican Locomotive Company (ALCO)
ModelUSRA Light Pacific
Build date1924
Total produced5
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-6-2
 • UIC2′C2′ h1
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver dia.73 in (1,854 mm)
Wheelbase70.62 ft (21.52 m) ​
 • Engine35.82 ft (10.92 m)
 • Drivers13 ft (4.0 m)
Adhesive weight170,000 lb (77,000 kilograms; 77 metric tons)
Loco weight285,500 lb (129,500 kilograms; 129.5 metric tons)
Tender weight198,800 lb (90,200 kilograms; 90.2 metric tons)
Total weight484,300 lb (219,700 kilograms; 219.7 metric tons)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity16 t (16 long tons; 18 short tons)
Water cap.10,000 US gal (38,000 L; 8,300 imp gal)
Firebox:​
 • Grate area66.70 sq ft (6.197 m2)
Boiler pressure200 psi (1.38 MPa)
Feedwater heaterWorthington
Heating surface:​
 • Firebox242 sq ft (22.5 m2)
Superheater:
​
 • TypeSchmidt[3]
 • Heating area794 sq ft (73.8 m2)
CylindersTwo
Cylinder size25 in × 28 in (635 mm × 711 mm)
Valve gearWalschaerts
Performance figures
Maximum speed80 mph (130 km/h)
Tractive effort40,753 lbf (181.28 kN)
Factor of adh.4.17
Career
OperatorsGrand Trunk Western Railroad
ClassK-4a
Numbers5627-5631
Delivered1924
Retired1959
Scrapped1960 (5627-5628, 5630-5631), 1987 (5629)
DispositionAll scrapped

The Grand Trunk Western Class K-4a is a class of five 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotives that were built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) for the Grand Trunk Western Railroad in 1924 as copies of the USRA Light Pacifics.[4][5][6]

History

In the early 1920s, the Grand Trunk Western Railroad needed a new class of steam locomotive that could haul freight trains at fast speeds, in response to this, the American Locomotive Company (ALCO), who was insisting on designing a locomotive class for the GTW had went back to the drawing board to draw up a design. This resulted in the formation of the Grand Trunk Western Class K-4a, a total of five locomotives were ever built in 1924, specifically to haul both passenger trains and freight trains at a maximum speed of 80 mph (130 km/h).[4][7] All five locomotives were numbered as 5627 through 5631.[5][6]

Excursion locomotive

Excursion service

Retired in 1959, No. 5629 was placed in storage at Durand, Michigan. In 1960, it was sold to Richard Jensen of Chicago, Illinois for approximately $9,540.40, the scrap value of the locomotive at the time.[8][9]

After pulling several more trips on the B&OCT, it was invited to run a trip over the GTW between Chicago, Illinois and South Bend, Indiana in the summer of 1966. Shortly before the run, Richard Jensen traded its original tender to a local scrapyard in exchange for a larger tender from a Soo Line 4-8-2 meanwhile No. 5629's original tender would eventually be scrapped in the early 1970s. The new tender allowed for more coal and water to be transported which meant the train did not have to stop as often to replenish its supply.[10]

Second retirement

The first Grand Trunk Western trip proved to be a big success and over the next few years, No. 5629 lead many excursions over the GTW in Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. In 1967 and 1968, it travelled to Baraboo, Wisconsin to pull the Circus World Museum's Schlitz Circus Train.[11][12]

In 1973, Richard Jensen was severely injured following an accident. Unable to run the locomotive, it later moved to Penn Central's (PC) Ex-Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) diesel service yard outside the Chicago Union Station in Chicago while Jensen was hospitalized.[10]

In the late 1970s, Jensen moved No. 5629 to the Rock Island Railroad's own Burr Oak Yard in Blue Island, Illinois. Around this time, the Rock Island was on the verge of bankruptcy, and in March 1980, the railroad had shut down.[10]

Burr Oak Yard was sold to Metra Commuter Rail of Chicago, who asked Jensen to relocate No. 5629 so they could build a new car shop where it stood. Unfortunately, the locomotive had been vandalized over the years to the point where it was unsafe to move. Metra told Jensen that he could move the 5629 to a nearby connection with the Iowa Interstate Railroad, but they were unable to assist him in moving it. In failing health, Jensen was unable to do so and took Metra to court. The judge had ruled and stated that if Jensen could not move it, Metra would have to scrap it.[10]

Word of No. 5629's endangerment spread through the local railroad community. Several groups, including the Illinois Railway Museum and the Mid-Continent Railway Museum, stepped in to try and save it, but soon realized it would be too costly since it could no longer move on its own wheels.[13][14]

Scrapping

"All Metra wants is the engine off our land, since it won't roll, the only alternative is to cut it up. It's a hunk of rust, it's sad the way he (Richard Jensen) let it deteriorate. We started sending him bills and he never sent us a nickel."

— Metra spokesman Chris Knapton[14]

In July 1987, Metra had received a court order that 5629 was to be scrapped, and Metra had contacted with the Erman-Howell Division of the Luria Brothers Scrap Company to dispose the 5629.[13] The scrapping process had begun on July 14, 1987, and it was done by July 20th.[15] After the scrapping had occurred, it was discovered that some of the vandalism done to the locomotive was done by Metra's own employees. As a result of this, nine employees were fired from Metra and Jensen filed a lawsuit, but ultimately lost.[10][16]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Llanso, Steve. "Canadian Government / Canadian National / Canadian Northern / Grand Trunk / Grand Trunk Pacific / Grand Trunk Western / Intercolonial / Reid Newfoundland 4-6-2 Locomotives in Canada". www.steamlocomotive.com. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  2. ↑ Dorin (1977), p. 120.
  3. ↑ McQueen (2013), p. 174
  4. 1 2 Drury (2015), p. 93.
  5. 1 2 Agreement Between Grand Trunk Western Railroad Company and Employees Represented by Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen. Detroit, Michigan: Grand Trunk Western Railroad. 1944. p. 57.
  6. 1 2 "GTW steam roster | CNRHA". www.cnrha.ca. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  7. ↑ Boyd (2000), pp. 54–56.
  8. ↑ Conrad, Dave (November–December 1991). "Obituaries: Richard Jensen". Locomotive & Railway Preservation. p. 60.
  9. ↑ McQueen (2013), p. 160
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 "Grand Trunk Western No. 5629". Locomotive & Railway Preservation. September–October 1987. pp. 16–17.
  11. ↑ Nelson (2013), p. 87
  12. ↑ Zeirke, Jim (July 2000). "The Great Circus Train" (PDF). Trains. Kalmbach Media. pp. 41–43. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  13. 1 2 Ziel (1990), p. 78.
  14. 1 2 Mahoney, Michelle (July 6, 1987). "Railroad Buffs Steamed by Plan to Scrap Antique Engine". Associated Press News. Archived from the original on June 13, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  15. ↑ Iverson, Lucas (2023-10-05). "Five former steam excursion locomotives that left an impact". www.trains.com. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  16. ↑ Conrad, Dave (November–December 1991). "Obituaries: Richard Jensen". Locomotive & Railway Preservation. p. 60.

Further reading

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