Here is a link I submitted to Stumbleupon:

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/3cYZbH/tr ... ilfan.html

It is a blog post I did that incorporates a YouTube video of the steam triple header run during the 1979 Railfan Weekend at Steamtown USA, Bellows Falls, Vermont.

Thanks so much for posting this links. I was there and this brings back so many memories!

Steve Hunter

Glad it brought back memories, Steve. As for myself, it was like a revelation. Steamtown USA in Bellows Falls was sort of in my time (I was born in 1980; Steamtown USA moved in 1983.) so being able to see the good shows they used to put on at Bellows Falls, VT, was pure joy to see!

Amazing how they were able to coordinate the speeds and directions of three CP 4-6-2s for multipule runbys! Dig that consist they have on behind them too, especially the E-L business car and L&N postal car.

That is so fantastic! The Canadian Pacific fans must have flipped out. Where was 1278 at this time? Blount did a wonderful thing in saving those G5 class Pacifics.
Listening to the whistles in chorus, makes me wonder what evening rus through the small towns of Quebec and New Brunswick might have sounded like.
Thank you for posting. This film is really special.

Wow! What a glorious train!

I have been lucky enough to fairly regularly fire the 1293 at the Ohio Central and now the Age Of Steam Roundhouse. She is a wonderful engine. She's in excellent condition and is very easy to fire. That video was really cool to see. I was 6 years old at the time!

Ryan Parkevich
Columbus, Ohio

Great film, great posting, thank you!

Who are the 3 engineers? Looks like Andy Barbera in the cab of the 1246...

Stephen

Andy Barbera in 1246, Howard Freeman in 1293 and Dick Williams on #2317 as best I can remember. That was quite a weekend. Left a big impression on this 15 year old. I haven't been the same since!

I may be a bit biased, but I'd wager there are some that would agree that the CP G5's are a rather underrated and unheralded locomotive design. I would love to see the equivalent of Ed King's excellent "The A" written on the these locomotives.

I'd definitely agree... having been fortunate enough to work on 1201 in years past, I can attest to the fact these are very modern, well designed, and capable locomotives... lots of power for a small Pacific, and plenty of speed, and very convenient and comfortable to work on.

It's almost surprising that such advanced locomotives were designed and built during WWII.

Apparently 600 G-5's were planned, but only 100 were built, probably due to the realization that dieselization was coming and the existing steamers were sufficient until then.

Steve Hunter

The 1200s were (are) such excellent locomotives, ideally suited to "post-steam-era" operations on all sorts of track and routes. The 1960s-70s-80s exploits of 1238 and 1286, and the three Steamtown sisters, 1246, 1278 and 1293, certainly prove that. 1278 taking 17 cars along the CNJ at track speed, 1238 and 1286 traipsing all the way up the High Bridge Branch, etc, etc-- kind of a "GP9 or RS-3 of steam".

It's most unfortunate that CPR's management was so "thrifty"; cast-steel engine beds with integral cylinders, and welded boilers (which 2 G5s did have-- 1216 and 1231) would have really been the icing on the cake for that design. The biggest drawback was probably the antiquated "trailing truck", which is really just a swiveling trailer wheel in a ridgid frame.

Howard P.

Steve -

I am far from an expert on Canadian steam, but didn't the G-5's run over into the low 1300 numbers? If so, that would make a bit more than 100. Anyone have the actual numbers; 1200 to ?

Thanks

I know CP built a little under 500 Pacifics overall, and that's over 5 classes (G-1 through G-5), but I'm not sure on the specific breakdown into classes.

Les:

102 were built: 1200 (G5a) through 1301 (G5d).

Actually, 102 to be exact (1200 thru 1301), I neglected to include 1200 and 1201, the Angus built engines in my count.

Steve