Sorry, I don't know about the device on the 0-8-0, but the flatcar was a caboose (Soo Line, if I remember) when I first saw it in the 1970s. I believe it got the chainsaw treatment later as an alternative to proper maintenance and possibly to create a stage for musical performances. I think it still has the caboose steps and railings present.

Sorry, I don't know about the device on the 0-8-0, but the flatcar was a caboose (Soo Line, if I remember) when I first saw it in the 1970s. I believe it got the chainsaw treatment later as an alternative to proper maintenance and possibly to create a stage for musical performances. I think it still has the caboose steps and railings present.

GTW 8327 is an 0-8-0 built for Grand Trunk Western in April of 1927. It became Northwestern Steel & Wire #10 in 1960 and eventually came to rest at Bandana Square in St. Paul, MN at Bandana Square, a now-failed shopping mall built on a railroad them in the Northern Pacific Como Shops complex.

Originally, an F7 (minus its innards) and an ex-BN box car were displayed at one side of the complex, while GTW 8327 was displayed on the other. In between two shop buildings the transfer table and a non-descript flat car were "preserved" with the intent that the flat car would become a stage for "festivals".

Anyhow, the F7 is gone, donated to the Minnesota Transportation Museum. You can see it, and some history at

http://mtmuseum.org/?body=jsr/roster/gn454A.html

8327 looks reasonable from a distance, apparently having been painted fairly recently:



Another view of 8327 shows the running gear from the left side of the locomotive.

Les,

It is my understanding that the developer of Bandana Square purchased the 0-8-0 directly from IRM (yes, this is one of the surplus Northwestern Steel & Wire engines that IRM was hawking off years ago). However, I was lead to believe that the wood caboose was on LOAN from MTM. Perhaps, after it had deteriorated enough, they didn’t want it back and other arrangements were made.

Dennis -

Thanks for the note. I am aware that the Bandana Square developer bought the 8327 (Northwestern Steel & Wire #10) directly from IRM. My question is who owns the 0-8-0 now? IF the picture is recent, she seems to be fairly well taken care of. But perhaps the photo is older. If so, what does she look like today? I thought perhaps the new owner (if there is one) of the Bandana Square property, is keeping her painted. Or that perhaps she was given to MTM, and they are looking out for her. Being outside, it is important that somebody look after her, or she will eventually start deteriorating.

Les

I was chatting with Steve Sandberg today about ("ahem") other matters, and it crossed my mind that he might know the answer to a question that had nagged at me since I photographed the 8327 back in September of 2007. He did. The cylindrical thing under the firebox (see the top of this thread) was used, somehow, to apply steam to frozen switch points. It was a creation of (and installed by) Sterling Wire when they used the locomotive.