Grand Trunk Western 4070

Grand Trunk Western No. 4070 is a class "S-3-a" 2-8-2 type USRA Light Mikado steam locomotive originally built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) in December 1918 for the Grand Trunk as No. 474, later re-numbered by Grand Trunk Western Railroad, after the GT was absorbed into Canadian National as GTW No. 3734. In the late 1950's the locomotive was given a larger tender, from an S-3-c, and re-numbered 4070. The locomotive has pulled passenger excursions in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania over the years. It also made a special "guest appearance" in the movie "The Natural", starring Robert Redford. That movie portion was filmed on the NY&LE railroad, in South Dayton, NY.

Grand Trunk Western 4070
GTW 4070 at Boston Mills Road in Boston Mills, Ohio
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder American Locomotive Company (ALCO) Order number S 1259 Serial number 60319 Model S3a Build date Dec 1918
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-8-2 Gauge 4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Driver dia. 63 inches (1,600 mm) Fuel type Coal+ Later oil! Fuel capacity 16 tons S3a, 18 tons S3c Tender cap. 10,000 gallons S3a, 12,000 gallons S3c Firebox:  • Firegrate area 66.7 sq ft Boiler pressure 200 psi (1.38 MPa)
Performance figures Maximum speed 65 miles per hour (105 km/h) Tractive effort 54,724 = 55%
Career Operators Grand Trunk Western, Midwest Railway Preservation Society Class S-3-a locomotive, S-3-c tender Numbers GTR 474 GTW 3734 GTW 4070 CB&Q 4070 Last run March 29, 1960, pulled freight on the GTW - two days after the official "retirement" of steam. Retired 1960 (revenue service) 1990 (excursion service) Restored 1968 Current owner Midwest Railway Preservation Society, successor to Midwest Railway Historical Foundation Disposition Undergoing restoration at the Midwest Railway Preservation Society

History

This USRA light 2-8-2 "Mikado" type locomotive was built in 1918 by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) in Schenectady, NY and assigned to Grand Trunk, which numbered it originally as 474. Sometime in the 1930s a Coffin feedwater heater was installed, and with other improvements, the number was changed by the GTW to 3734. This steam locomotive's road career consisted of pulling freight and passenger services in Michigan. After falling into a turntable in June 1955,[1] the locomotive was shopped and given a larger tender, and the locomotive's number was changed to 4070. The 4070 continued to pull regular duty until March 1960, when it pulled its final revenue freight, from Pontiac to Durand, MI and then was retired. The locomotive was sold to Lou Keller. In 1966 the Midwest Railway Historical Foundation (now MRPS) acquired the engine on a five-year lease. It was then moved to Chicago, where it was gone over by Dick Jensen and his crew.

Life after the Grand Trunk

The year 1968 saw the 4070 pulling excursions through Chicago, Valparaiso, and the South Bend. In 1969, the 4070 pulled some excursions in Pennsylvania. The 4070 was also used at Conneaut Lake Park in PA. In 1971, MRHF bought out the lease. At one time in the early 1970s the 4070 was stored underneath Cleveland's Terminal Tower. In 1975 it was selected to be used on the newly created Cuyahoga Valley Line - now known as the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. In 1977, the 4070 performed a doubleheader along the famed Horseshoe Curve with Reading T-1 4-8-4 "Northern" 2102.[2] However, that trip was plagued with mechanical issues; while on the curve, the 4070 threw an eccentric rod, and the busy Conrail line where their train sat had to be shut down for several hours. After the incident, Conrail banned steam operations for the next several years. The 4070 had its rods repaired and was brought back to pull passenger trains on the Cuyahoga Valley Line. Additionally, in 1983, the locomotive was painted as Chicago, Burlington and Quincy 4070, and run to South Dayton, NY, for filming in the movie The Natural, starring Robert Redford, and released in 1984. After the movie, it continued service on the CVL until encountering mechanical difficulties in 1990. Upon inspection, 4070 was found to be in need of repairs. Seeing that the cost of the repairs would be prohibitive, 4070 was once again retired from service.[3]

Second restoration

In 2011 the process started of restoring the locomotive to operational condition at the Midwest Railway Preservation Society[4] in Cleveland, Ohio. The locomotive boiler and tender have both been tested using ultrasound. The locomotive must have its drypipe, and front and rear tube sheets replaced. In addition, the smokebox, firebox, frame, running gear, driving boxes, tender and many assorted parts all need major work before 4070 can be operational. The estimated cost of 4070's restoration is $1,290,000.[5] When the money is funded, the restoration time would be set at around two years or more.

References

1. Edmund (2016-08-04), 3734GTW_Pontiac_6-9-55, retrieved 2021-01-28
2. "RailPictures.Net Photo: AGY 2102 Allegheny Railroad Steam 4-8-4 at Derry, Pennsylvania by John Dziobko www.godfatherrails.com". www.railpictures.net. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
3. "Locomotives Being Restored". Steam Railroading.
4. "The Restoration of 4070". Midwest Railway Preservation Society. 2020-03-15. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
5. "Steam Locomotive 4070 being restored at Midwest Railway Preservation Society". Midwest Railway Preservation Society.

"Evening Before The Diesel" by Charles R. Foss

External links

• Railroad Picture Archive: GTW 4070

• Steamlocomotive.com