Steamtown May Restore CN 2-8-2

Steamtown National Historic Site is eyeing a former Canadian National steam locomotive as its next restoration project.

Superintendent Deborah Conway told Trains magazine that CN 2-8-2 No. 3377 is a “likely candidate” for restoration.

However, the park’s shop first plans to finish its restoration work of Boston & Maine 4-6-2 Pacific-type No. 3713.

No. 3377 was built by the Canadian Locomotive Company in 1919 and is nearly identical to Steamtown’s other CN 2-8-2, No. 3254, which was taken out of service in 2012.

No. 3254 had a high profile at Steamtown throughout the 1990s and 2000s, but park officials think No. 3377 might be in better condition than No. 3254.

“A condition assessment is needed to fully determine a course of action but overall staff feels that No. 3254 is pretty worn out,” Conway said.

In the meantime, Steamtown has awarded to the Strasburg Rail Road a contract to build the firebox of No. 3713.

Tags: 2-8-2 steam locomotives, Canadian National steam locomotives, CN steam locomotives, Deborah Conway, restoration, steam locomotive restoration, steam restoration, Steamtown National Historic Site