The
Canadian National 3254 is a preserved Canadian National class S-1-b
2-8-2Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-8-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...
type
steam locomotiveA steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
. It is a part of the operating fleet at the
Steamtown National Historic SiteSteamtown National Historic Site is a railroad museum and heritage railroad located on in downtown Scranton, Pennsylvania, at the site of the former Scranton yards of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad . The museum is built around a working replica turntable and a roundhouse that is...
in
Scranton, PennsylvaniaScranton is a city in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, United States. It is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the largest principal city in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area. Scranton had a population of 76,089 in 2010, according to the U.S...
.
History
Canadian National 3254 was built in 1917 by the Canadian Locomotive Company for the Canadian Government Railways where it was numbered 2854. In 1918, the Canadian Government Railways combined with the
Canadian Northern RailwayThe Canadian Northern Railway is a historic Canadian transcontinental railway. At its demise in 1923, when it was merged into the Canadian National Railway , the CNoR owned a main line between Quebec City and Vancouver via Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Edmonton.-Manitoba beginnings:CNoR had its start in...
formed the
Canadian National RailwayThe Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
s. The 3254 was in charge of handling very heavy freight trains until the Canadian National retired it in 1958. In 1961, it was sold to a private owner and in 1982 it was sold to the Gettysburg Railroad. In the summer of 1987, the steam locomotive arrived at Steamtown after Steamtown traded Canadian Pacific 4-6-2 #1278 and cash for the 3254.
Today
Today the 3254 takes excursions from Scranton. Because of 3254's high pulling power, she is able to climb grades at ease. Despite being an operable Canadian steam locomotive, a lot of American railfans come to Steamtown to view the 3254 and ride excursions behind the 3254.
Steamtown also has a Canadian National class S-1-d Mikado, the
3377Canadian National 3377 is a preserved 2-8-2 steam locomotive at the Steamtown National Historic Site.After being retired, the locomotive was sold to the Edaville Railroad in September of 1961, and then became part of Steamtown in 1969. It has been cannibalized for parts for Steamtown's operating...
, on static display. In 2010, the 3254's tender was rusted and leaking, so a new one was rebuilt (keeping the original underframe). The 3254's leaky tank was then put on the 3377's tender frame, and the 3377's tank was scrapped.