It’s of beastly proportions and sitting in a building barely larger than itself means it’s difficult to photograph. It’s just too big and the space too cramped. Anyway, it’s not at its best all naked and vulnerable while being restored, so those type of photos can wait. You know, roll it outside when it’s all done up pretty and snap away but until then it’s close-in detail shots. We’re talking about a famous steam locomotive, #6060, and it’s a sleeping giant present day after being out of service for a couple years. A group is working to change that, however, so it can again polish the rails.
Getting to that point will be a long process so in the meantime, here’s a couple random teaser images from one of our visits to the site. We’ve dropped by a couple times now and have volunteered to document each major step along the way. However long it takes and when done we’ll (hopefully) make a story out of this. To see it go from an in-pieces state to back on the road is something we can all look forward too.
We’ve blindly picked photos out of a hat here and thankfully it’s nothing out of focus or something embarrassing. It’ll happen one day in a “Random Pick” post as we’ve got no shortage of stinkers and rejects in our collection.
Perhaps the most widely recognized steam locomotive in Canada, #6060 dates from 1944 and when back in service will be the largest operational example in the country. For decades it’s pulled various excursions (why it’s so well known) but that has taken its toll and so it’s what you see here. But it’ll roll again and you can help the project move forward by going here: Rocky Mountain Rail Society #6060.
Short Subjects: reports that are short and sweet in nature. It’s stuff interesting enough in itself, but not deserved of the full on BIGDoer.com treatment. Think silly little snippets, vignettes and likewise things of that sort and you’ll be in and out in no time.
While the Mountains were the largest CN passenger locomotives to operate regularly in western Canada (CN’s more famous Northerns were not used much west of Winnipeg, and were most common in southern Ontario and farther east), the CN T-4-b Santa Fe’s have them beat in tractive effort. They were the most powerful CN steam locomotives to regularly operate in western Canada, but unfortunately none were preserved.
Different engines for different tasks, 6060 could do 90 mph with a good size passenger train while the 4300s were designed for slower speed heavy freight work, and by 35-40 mph their rods were a blur and the exhaust one continuous roar with no discernible chuffing (as told to me by another volunteer who used to fire them).
As preserved engines go 6060 is indeed one of the most famous, but is again beaten in weight and power by a number of other Canadian engines. Even CP’s last class of Royal Hudsons weigh more, the difference being explained by CP’s better track allowing higher axle loadings.
The largest and most powerful steam locomotives in Canada, and indeed in the whole British Empire were CN’s T-2-a Santa Fe’s (one, 4100, is preserved at the Canadian Railway Museum) and CP’s Selkirks. There is some debate about which one deserves the crown as “largest”, as the CN 4100s produced more tractive effort but were strictly low speed engines (being designed for transfer and helper service on the grades around Toronto), while the Selkirks weighed around 40,000 lbs more and were far more versatile.
The CNRHA site has a number of scanned steam data sheets, here’s the one for 6060’s class:
Thank you so much and on review see that the wording needed some serious clarification. We thought one thing and wrote down another – sigh – if you see my brain, send it home. It should have read when in service it’s the largest (in terms of size) operational steamer in the country, but by the time it was typed, the context was messed up. We’ve since updated the post to make it a little more clear.
Still, what you shared was an enjoyable read and we appreciate you taking the time.
Beer Parlour Project Friday🍺: The Thorsby Hotel, built in 1929 & a photo by the manager's 7 years old daughter. More below 👇
Agreema politely asked if she could shoot a few photos & we obliged. A dark environment like this is very unforgiving & the camera she used quite temperamental, so she did an amazing job. We're out of work as photographers! Great food at this place, BTW!
Beer Parlour Project Friday🍺: The Tofield Hotel, built in 1912 & patron Lana, shot on Rob's vintage view camera. More below 👇
She's a sweetie & met her late husband at the hotel. The building from the alley side hasn't changed much since being built but the front brickwork is now covered by siding.
Crossley slides (unrestored), an unnamed fellow snacking on Sun-Maid Raisins - mountains of BC - 1950s. More below 👇
The distinctive red box is instantly recognizable! The location is listed as the Whitewater Valley & we think it's in the Sandon area close to Retallack. Perhaps some of our friends out that way can confirm. Sandon B.C., would Hal know? Crossley frequented Sandon so the location makes sense. Note the (mine?) road cutting across the slope in back. The slide is dated 1955 in the catalogue but 1956 on the frame.
Shout out to: Jason Sailer. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
An old section of Highway #6 (BC) in the 1970s & 2021 - it's the second most shared post in our entire history! More below 👇
The original photo shows the road about the time it was decommissioned. This was always a troublesome section & so it got replaced by a new route further up the hill. While it hasn’t seen a car in eons, it remains overall in reasonable shape, save for some rockfall in places like this. These came down about ten years ago.
Happy Holidays from Off the Beaten Path w' Chris & Connie. Thanks for your continued support & encouragement. More 👇
🎄 🎄 🎄
CPKC's Holiday Train from a few nights ago. Rather than fight the crowds to see it, we wanted something a little more intimate. A bit of hike, but we brought mulled wine to help us keep warm while waiting. It's not a great shot & originally we had no intent to share it here, but what the heck.
Trainspotting is like fishing. It's not about the catch but rather getting out. If a train comes by, great, but if not, we had each other & a chance to get away from the day's problems. That's a BIG win in our books...even if we did freeze our bottoms off. _______
Out exploring with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
So there’s where it’s been hiding?
It’s not been in the news much lately (Covid stuff I suspose).
A fun day to visit the locomotive! I look forward to returning with you on future visits!
Yes!
While the Mountains were the largest CN passenger locomotives to operate regularly in western Canada (CN’s more famous Northerns were not used much west of Winnipeg, and were most common in southern Ontario and farther east), the CN T-4-b Santa Fe’s have them beat in tractive effort. They were the most powerful CN steam locomotives to regularly operate in western Canada, but unfortunately none were preserved.
Different engines for different tasks, 6060 could do 90 mph with a good size passenger train while the 4300s were designed for slower speed heavy freight work, and by 35-40 mph their rods were a blur and the exhaust one continuous roar with no discernible chuffing (as told to me by another volunteer who used to fire them).
As preserved engines go 6060 is indeed one of the most famous, but is again beaten in weight and power by a number of other Canadian engines. Even CP’s last class of Royal Hudsons weigh more, the difference being explained by CP’s better track allowing higher axle loadings.
The largest and most powerful steam locomotives in Canada, and indeed in the whole British Empire were CN’s T-2-a Santa Fe’s (one, 4100, is preserved at the Canadian Railway Museum) and CP’s Selkirks. There is some debate about which one deserves the crown as “largest”, as the CN 4100s produced more tractive effort but were strictly low speed engines (being designed for transfer and helper service on the grades around Toronto), while the Selkirks weighed around 40,000 lbs more and were far more versatile.
The CNRHA site has a number of scanned steam data sheets, here’s the one for 6060’s class:
http://www.cnrha.ca/node/704/
It’s nice to see you are following 6060’s story, we all look forward to the day when she will operate again.
Thank you so much and on review see that the wording needed some serious clarification. We thought one thing and wrote down another – sigh – if you see my brain, send it home. It should have read when in service it’s the largest (in terms of size) operational steamer in the country, but by the time it was typed, the context was messed up. We’ve since updated the post to make it a little more clear.
Still, what you shared was an enjoyable read and we appreciate you taking the time.