Bienfait, Saskatchewan: The Town of Bienfait received a contribution of $107,398 that will be used to repair and revitalize the tourism elements already in place in the town. The community has two significant tourism assets, and a press release for the announcement says both need repair and/or refurbishment.

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The second is the 1907 steam locomotive used by the Manitoba & Saskatchewan Coal Company (M&S) with a Canadian National Railway (CNR) caboose. The locomotive and caboose are a designated municipal heritage property.

Funds will be used in the train station/museum and schoolhouse for interior repairs or replacements of windows, walls, door frames and ceilings, and exterior repairs or replacements including the deck, front office awning, eavestroughs and fence repairs.

The 1907 steam locomotive engine, caboose and coal train require sandblasting and repainting; however, the caboose requires additional repairs to ensure it is safe for tourists and tour guides, including roof, chimney, floorboards, walls, and floor runner repairs and replacements.

(more at the link below)

• Canadian Pacific Railway 3522,2-8-0 (BLW 31053 / 1907), CPR class M4g

Source: Estevan Mercury: https://www.sasktoday.ca/south/local-ne ... ts-5336302

Sounds good. Are the funds sufficient to do all the necessary work to 3522 and the other equipment?

Is there any thought to fund raise? GoFundMe??

Has anyone contacted CP for some help?

They should see if the boiler is in a good condition

I know that engine very well. She passed her 'best before' date in the '50s. She was tired when the CPR sold her and from there was subsequently 'ridden hard and put away wet' for another 15 years service at the Beinfait mine. They did their best to keep things running, but without access to any kind of backshop, all the repairs were 'patch jobs' that would make even a crooked, half blind boiler inspector shake their head. It was regarded as piece of mining equipment by a company with a shoestring budget, no more and no less. They squeezed every single drop of revenue service out of the engines with as little maintenance as possible and ran the fleet until they just stopped being able to move.. (Fun fact, the #3 back left driver on the #2166 in Saskatoon has a tire that is 1" too big..so the mine crew just added shims to make up the space with a gap in some places that is big enough to put your finger through. They also split the cast center and added wedges to try to expand it. The tire would wobble ( compounded by excessive lateral from worn hub liners), and cut into the side sheet of the firebox. So...the shop crews just added steel plate to the side of the firebox as a wear pad, welded right overtop the stays - problem solved, right?).

There's 3 surviving locos from the Beinfait operation - the 3522 in the town, one in Saskatoon (SK) and one in Sandon, BC. All 3 are just plain worn out

In light of the recent restorations over the last few years it is hard to 'never say never', but in this case...I'm 99% certain it will never run again.

73
RWC

Why? Because it would be nice to have another locomotive restored? Not everything needs to be restored to operating condition. This locomotive is being restored cosmetically, which is an accomplishment on its own and cause enough for celebration. Let's be realistic.