Pa. Short Line Acquires ex-GTW Steam Locomotive

A former Grand Trunk Western steam locomotive that has been on display in Michigan has been sold to a Pennsylvania short line railroad.

The locomotive, 4-6-2 No. 5030, has been on static display for more than 60 years in North Lawn Park in Jackson, Michigan.

The Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust has agreed to pay $50,000 over five years for the locomotive, a light Pacific type built in 1912 by Montreal Locomotive Works.

The trust represents a 9-mile short line railroad, the Colebrookdale Railroad in Boyertown, Pennsylvania.

The locomotive had been donated to Jackson in in 1957. City officials said they agreed to sell it after concluding they lacked the money needed to continue to maintain it.

Colebrooke officials said they have been looking to acquire a steam locomotive for their tourist operations

Moving and rebuilding the locomotive is expected to cost $2 million.

Visiting Railfest Weekend at Steamtown

Former Baldwin Eddystone Plant switcher No. 26 ran around pulling short excursions through the yard.

A big event here in the New Jersey/Eastern Pennsylvania area is the annual Railfest at Steamtown National Historic Site over Labor Day Weekend. It is a two-day event, featuring displays, train rides and a night photo session. This day was sunny on Saturday morning but turned to overcast skies as the day went on. Here are some highlights.

Photographs by Jack Norris

Original Lackawanna No. 426, a model SC switcher built by EMC, which predates the change to EMD.

The New York, Ontario & Western entered the diesel age in 1941 with the purchase of five GE 44 tonners. This is one of the original five.

Grand Trunk Western 4-8-2 No. 6039.

Nickel Plate Road No. 759 needs no introduction.

Lackawanna painted F-3 #663 pulled caboose rides through the yard.

Reading F-7s 902 & 903 are not owned by Steamtown but reside their when not pulling excursions for the two groups that own them.

Reading T-1 No. 2124 is one of the four T-1s that the Reading preserved for their Iron Horse Rambles. The 2124 was basically a reserve engine for the 2100, 2101 & 2102.