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A Northern (Niagara) Exposure for QJdriver!
https://rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=48783
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Author:  Great Western [ Mon Jun 02, 2025 8:36 am ]
Post subject:  A Northern (Niagara) Exposure for QJdriver!

These pics were unashamedly purloined from the 2816 Empress fb site. Great looking loco that the CPR crew "inspected" in Monterrey last year..
As talked about on here before, good mainline locos with reasonable axle loadings for general excursion service -- akin to CNR 6218 or 6060, remembered running on 80-pound rail!

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Author:  QJdriver [ Mon Jun 02, 2025 1:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A Northern (Niagara) Exposure for QJdriver!

Thanks for posting this Rick !!!! Maybe I'll have to change my RyPN alias to QR-1driver.... After the mob scenes set off by CP #2816, I'd be very surprised if the CPKC gets involved with this locomotive, but I'm always asking for somebody to please prove me wrong in such matters.

Author:  Great Western [ Mon Jun 02, 2025 9:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A Northern (Niagara) Exposure for QJdriver!

Sammy,
I am taking the liberty of posting your earlier RYPN article here. There are some great images and information. Thank you for doing it.
The more one learns about this class of locomotives, the more one is impressed. It is always interesting how different companies chose the locomotives they did. It would have been a treat to have sat in on the engineering meetings when they were determining the locomotive needs and the designs to accomplish those needs.
https://www.rypn.org/rypn_files/article ... efault.htm

Author:  QJdriver [ Thu Jun 05, 2025 1:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A Northern (Niagara) Exposure for QJdriver!

Ther REAL shame of the QR-1 saga is the most untimely passing of Dr Richard Steinbrenner just as we were getting ready to put a wrench on the #3029. He not only had access to a couple million greenbacks, but no doubt he could have shed a much brighter light on the development of these engines than I did.

Author:  NVPete [ Sat Jun 28, 2025 10:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A Northern (Niagara) Exposure for QJdriver!

You look like the prettiest guy in that bunch, Sammy, except for perhaps the locomotive and that dude in fatigues...

Author:  QJdriver [ Mon Jun 30, 2025 6:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A Northern (Niagara) Exposure for QJdriver!

Sorry to say I wasn't there, Pete. I haven't been to Mexico since 2008.

Amor de lejos es amor de pendejos....

Author:  QJdriver [ Mon Jun 30, 2025 6:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A Northern (Niagara) Exposure for QJdriver!

Sorry to say I wasn't there, Pete. I haven't been to Mexico since 2008.

Amor de lejos es amor de pendejos....

Author:  QJdriver [ Mon Jun 30, 2025 6:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A Northern (Niagara) Exposure for QJdriver!

Sorry to say I wasn't there, Pete. I haven't been to Mexico since 2008.

Amor de lejos es amor de pendejos....

Author:  Frisco1522 [ Tue Jul 01, 2025 2:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A Northern (Niagara) Exposure for QJdriver!

I've been curious about this engine for years.
When did it come to the US and for what purpose?
Is there ANY plan to do ANYTHING with her?
Just seems like such a waste of it sitting for years with nothing done.
What's the story?

Author:  QJdriver [ Wed Jul 02, 2025 5:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A Northern (Niagara) Exposure for QJdriver!

Mr 1522,

I'm assuming you mean the #3028 (I hit the wrong key earlier in this thread, my apologies to all).

She was purchased by the ALCO Historical Society back in 1964 or 1965, and exhibited in the former D&H shops for years as an example of an export locomotive. Trains magazine had a broadside of her published at about this time, she sure looked fine, fresh from an overhaul. When she crossed the border at Nuevo Laredo she had half a glass of water, carried 245 PSI of steam, was fully greased and oiled, with a full sandbox, the cab was fully provisioned, and her tender was full. Unfortunately the ICC didn't have any paperwork, so she was towed dead in train to Schenectady.

I can't say for certain what was intended for her, or what her legal status is today, only that somebody has called me every so often for the last 40 years because I'm a notorious Niagaraholic. A few years ago Dr Steinbrenner had access to financial backing, he was going to cover the legal wrangling, and I was going to help however I could. I got copies from the late Tom Irion of a couple dozen 1 1/2" scale drawings, erecting card, running gear, boiler, lots of information, and sent this to the AHTS. That is as far as we got in all these years, and I must agree with you that a 4-8-4 is as terrible thing to waste.

Thank you for your interest....

Author:  Howard P. [ Wed Jul 02, 2025 9:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A Northern (Niagara) Exposure for QJdriver!

3028 was originally obtained by "The Great North Eastern Railway Foundation" (known and pronounced as "GNERF") as an example of a Schenectady-built Alco steam locomotive, for display and possible operation in the Albany-Schenectady Capitol Region of New York State. Fund-raising ads in Trains Magazine at the time described the plans. It was on public display at the Altamont (NY) Fairgrounds for many years, until being moved to storage at the Delaware & Hudson's Colonie Shops in the 1980s. It also had a background part in the film "Ironweed".

The few remaining GNERF principals were all quite elderly by that time, and at some point around the late 1990s (perhaps earlier), the locomotive was leased/loaned/transferred to New Hope & Ivyland.

In the early 1990s, I was in the firebox of 3028 (at Building 29 in Colonie), and was astounded to see a large section of steel angle (approximately 3" x 3" and about 20" long) welded into and replacing what was part of the upper crown sheet to flue sheet knuckle flange.

There was significant welding showing on some of the side rods.

The tender was full of bunker oil, which was slowly oozing out of a couple of leaks in the tank. It was cold in the shop (wintertime), so the stuff was "moving like molasses in January" and forming impressive black "oil-cicles".

All of that could be rectified in a proper restoration, but the notion that the only thing preventing 3028 from operation in the US was paperwork, is perhaps a bit far-fetched.

It is indeed a shame that 3028 has suffered so much since leaving the Albany Capitol Region. It would be a wonderful locomotive for operation on some regional and shortline railroads.

Howard P.

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