Canadian Pacific 2317

Canadian Pacific 2317 is a class "G-3c" 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotive built in June 1923 by the Montreal Locomotive Works for the Canadian Pacific Railway. As a member of the G-3 Class, the 2317 was in use in fast passenger service until being retired in 1959 after having its duties taken over by diesel locomotives. The locomotive was placed in storage until 1965 when it was purchased for display in the Steamtown U.S.A. collection in Bellows Falls, Vermont. In 1978, the locomotive was restored to operating condition for the purpose of pulling excursion trains for Steamtown until it was taken out of service in 2010. Currently, the 2317 is stored awaiting a future overhaul.

Canadian Pacific 2317
CPR No. 2317 at Steamtown National Historic Site in October 2006
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderMontreal Locomotive Works
Serial number64541
Build date1923
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-6-2
 • UIC2′C1′ h2
Gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Driver dia.75 in (1,905 mm)
Adhesive weight192,000 lb (87.1 tonnes)
Loco weight317,000 lb (143.8 tonnes)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity17 long tons (17 t)
Water cap10,000 imp gal (45,000 l; 12,000 US gal)
Boiler pressure200 lbf/in2 (1.38 MPa)
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size25 in × 30 in (635 mm × 762 mm)
Loco brake26L
Performance figures
Tractive effort46,600 lbf (207.29 kN)
Career
OperatorsCanadian Pacific,
F. Nelson Blount,
Steamtown, U.S.A.,
Steamtown National Historic Site
ClassCPR G-3c
Numbers
  • CPR 2317
  • DLW 2317
Retired1959 (revenue service)
Restored1978
Current ownerSteamtown National Historic Site
DispositionAwaiting 1472-day overhaul/restoration, based in Scranton, Pennsylvania

History

2317 was built in 1923 for the Canadian Pacific Railway for fast express passenger trains. While little is known about its career on Canadian Pacific, it is known that it was stationed in Winnipeg, Manitoba for a good portion of its working life.[1] Upon its retirement from active service in 1959, it was placed into storage. In 1965, seafood magnate and steam locomotive enthusiast F. Nelson Blount purchased the locomotive and moved it to Bellows Falls, Vermont, with the rest of his Steamtown, U.S.A. collection.

Steamtown

In 1978, 2317 was restored to operating condition and joined Steamtown's operating fleet, painted in the Canadian Pacific gray-blue and Tuscan red livery (which it never wore in regular service). 2317 was moved with the rest of the Steamtown collection to Scranton, Pennsylvania, arriving on 31 January 1984.[1] The 2317 was fired up four days later for the "Grand Entrance Ceremony" on 4 February 1984. 2317 was fired up once more on 1 September 1984 for the first Steamtown excursion in Scranton which ran on the former Delaware, Lackawanna and Western mainline between Scranton and Elmhurst, Pennsylvania.[1]

In 1986, 2317 was painted in the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad's "Pocono Mountain Route" livery.[1] It remained this way until after the National Park Service took over Steamtown in 1987 when it was repainted into the livery it wore in active service with Canadian Pacific.

2317 was present at the grand opening of Steamtown National Historic Site along with Baldwin Locomotive Works 26 and Canadian National 3254 and ran several excursions on the former Lackawanna main line. 2317 then settled down and would often pull Steamtown's excursions in tandem with 3254 until 2004 when problems with its trailing truck, dry pipe and tires were found. Between 2004 and 2007, 2317 only ran the "Scranton Limited" yard shuttle trains. New tires were installed in 2007, which allowed 2317 to pull a few of the longer excursions to East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, and the Delaware Water Gap.

Current Status

After the end of the 2009 operating season, 2317 was used only sparingly as its flue-time was running short. 2317 last ran during Steamtown's 2010 Lackawanna Railfest. After which, 2317 was placed into storage in the Steamtown Roundhouse where it is viewable to the public. 2317 currently awaits FRA-mandated repairs before it can operate again.[1] According to Steamtown, they plan to restore 2317, after finishing the restoration project on Boston and Maine 3713 is complete.[1]

References
  1. "Canadian Pacific 2317". Steamtown NHS. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
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