Fresh from her 5-year inspection and recertification (kind of like a diet 1,472 Day, everything receives non-destructive examination but the tubes stay in), ex-CN 4-6-0 1392 returned to service on August 4, 5 and 6, our Heritage Day long weekend. She performed beautifully, and we are looking forward to another 5 years of steam.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAh3qTc_6zQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9ouqz2ryo4

Some other sights from the Museum:

http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=34315

http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=34316

http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=34355

She looks and sounds great! Really like her whistle.

Two questions - 1) What is the meaning of the "20%" marking on the side of the cab? 2) Is your enclosed water tower original? Is it operable, as it appears to be missing its spout.

Beautiful. Canadian steam is inspiring.

Christopher,

1). The 28% notation is the locomotive's haulage rating. In CN's classification system each 1% equals 1,000 lbs continuous tractive effort.

2). The water tower is originally from Gibbons, AB, about 8 miles north of the Museum. Unfortunately it is not operable, while the structure is still strong enough to support itself a full tank of water might be asking too much. We still have the spout, it was taken off a couple years ago to make painting the water tower easier. Hanging it on the tower again is on the to-do list, but hasn't happened yet.

We use a tank car and auxiliary tender for water storage, and a gas Honda pump is used to water 1392.

Doesn't Canada exempt historic steam locomotives from the ditch light requirement like our FRA does? Or did the museum just decide to add them anyway?

Paul,

I will have to look at the regulations again but I believe you are correct. We did not use them when operating on the Alberta Prairie Railway last year, and their 20 mile line is full of crossings.

However, I believe there was a time when ditchlights were required on ALL locomotives up here. That is why they were added, along with a second dynamo to power them.

CN 6060 has ditchlights too, since at least 1989:

http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=25745

What is 6060's status, or should that be another thread?

6060 has been out of service since 2011, and is in need of some major, expensive boiler work. I can't remember exactly what though. She was on display outside the shop at Warden, AB for a time last year, and absent any news I imagine she still looks like this:

http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=30004