The other locomotive, CB&Q 4-8-4 #5632, was also cut up under somewhat similar circumstances. I've yet to see a photograph of the scrapping of that wonderful locomotive. Does anyone have, or know of such a picture? I can't believe it got away without a photo by somebody.

And they're right. But to paraphrase the late, great Waylon Jennings, it keeps us from going insane........................................

"Does anyone have, or know of such a picture? I can't believe it got away without a photo by somebody."

Since that occurred inside a scrap yard, on private property, and an active and dangerous industrial facility to boot, I doubt any pictures exist. And I doubt anyone knew just when to "happen by", either. It's Chicago, man. (no offense, just a fact...)

Some of the details of 5632's condition and ultimate demise are hard to take-- I have seen many color slides taken of the 5632 at the C&WI roundhouse, slides of ALL the NEW firebox sheets tacked in place, ready for finish-welding of the seams, and driving of the new Flannery staybolts. I've also seen slides of the boxes and boxes of these stacked in the cab, reportedly the last order Flannery made before closing. The engine was going back together when the CB&Q shut down the work and sold the engine to Jensen.

The biggest mystery has to be why Dick Jensen refused help from other parties when all this got to be too much for him.

Howard P.

As mentioned earier, Steamlocomotive.com contains a detailed story of what happened to CB&Q #5632 and GTW #5629, and why. It's confusing to me, though, and some dates and details appear to be mixed up. For example, the writer mentions CRI&P filing for abandonment in 1987, when it was actually 1980 when Rock Island went under. METRA began operation in 1984. This suggests to me that #5629 had been sitting at Blue Island for maybe as long as 10 years, rather than less than one as the written story indicates.

If #5629 had been 'abandoned' at the Blue Island yard since the late '70s before it was ultimately scrapped in 1987, perhaps the work involved to make it tow-able was just too extensive. Otherwise I can't see how METRA would have justified the money and manpower it took to scrap it, when towing it away, legally or not, would have been easier and quicker. Does anybody have any other information about how long #5629 was at Blue Island?

One rumor has it that the steam locomotive that METRA had scrapped was not towable because the drivers' journals (bearings) were missing.

The missing journal brasses were apparently the lead truck brasses; easily replaced, even with oak blocks and lots of grease for a short haul. Driver journal brasses are pressed into the driving boxes with many tons of pressure, and are not readily removed/replaced while under a locomotive.

Howard P.

Howard -

Years ago, the explanation I got from a METRA official is that they had to scrap the 5629 because it was right where they were going to put a building up. The last time I checked, that building had still not been built. In other words, they could have just left the Pacific there in what became a storage material yard. It might have been a bit inconvenient having the 4-6-2 just sitting there, but certainly would not have been an insurmountable obstacle.

Les

I've seen photos of the 5629, which I assume where taken before it was scrapped and it looks like it had been sitting outside for a long time (in orther words it was starting to resemble 6167), with looks of rust missing parts, vandalism etc.

Oh and I'll bet the guys cutting her up probably got a healthy dose of Asbestos...