CNR 6218 was the last fan trip queen of the post-steam era on the Canadian National, succeeding 6167. Placed in Fort Erie, Ontario, she was last reported as being in deplorable condition. There was talk of a group taking her on as a preservation/cosmetic restoration project. Has anything come of that discussion? Has anyone been over to assess the locomotive in recent months?

I'm guessing even worse than when I saw her 7 years ago. Countless missing parts and incorrect parts, a rotted out smokebox with a giant hole in the front, a cab left wide open 24 hours a day. A joke of rotting boiler jacket filled with fiberglass insulation after the asbestos was abated in the early 90s. All of the plus on the cylinders have been removed so water has most likely been getting into the there as well.

I don't think you can get much worse than that... rotted out smokebox, cylinders, possibly the boiler shell. There must be nothing left of the flexible staybolt caps by now.

The people that did that restoration had no idea what they were doing. I recall finding one of the alemite grease fittings from the main rod shoved into the steam supply end of the air pump... figure that one out.

And many other atrocities.

When was the 6218 stuffed and mounted and was the 6060 still running at the time?

Bob H

6060 came out around 1972, was completely refurbished from a static display piece, and then retired from CNR public service. 6218 was retired around 1962 or 63. She ran at least one double-header with 6167.

Richard,

6167 was retired in September 1964, and ran two doubleheader trips with her replacement 6218 at that time ('67's last trips and '18's first). I think 6218 ran into the early 70s. Her last trip is the one where she had the smoke lifters applied.

I have at least one photo of 6060 towing a dead 6218, most likely to Fort Erie.

She is in very poor condition with nothing being done to her at the moment. There is a friends group trying to raise funds, but the Town won't allow any volunteers to work on it, paid contractors only, so there she sits. The group is doing their best at trying to raise funds, but it's not easy. There are some other things in the works, but I am not able to mention them at this time. Unfortunately there is no protection or her anymore as they took the fence down around the site. They also built a firehall in front which blocks the museum from one direction. The 2 pics of 6218 below were taken late last summer as we were removing the former Atlas Steel 30" gauge Porter Fireless Locomotive, which was on the verge of being scrapped. It is now safely displayed at the Niagara Railway Museum, located a stones throw from 6218, in the former CNR diesel shop.

6218 was towed dead to Fort Erie by her replacement, 6060. She was given a complete paint job at Fort Erie before going on display in Sugarbowl Park. The last total paint job she received I believe was in 1995, and it was standard Tremclad off the shelf paint that was used. When the asbestos was removed all those years ago it was replaced with pink fibreglass insulation, and the jacket was improperly fitted as well. The boiler was not sealed properly, and the years have definitely taken their toll.

You ever get the idea that people are prevented from doing anything in this day and age? No? You only have to go as far as the quote above...

She's a locomotive that deserves a better fate. I have to laugh a the removal of asbestos insulation, only to replace it with pink fiberglass - on a cold park display locomotive? This shows the level of understanding regarding steam.

Ken, she looked nice in the photo, sitting in front of what is now NRM's shop...

:-)

Steve

Yes Steve, she would look great over at our site. And we just happen to have the space for her. Not that we've measured it or anything, just to be sure it would fit. She won't survive much longer if nothing is done. As Richard said, she deserves better. Even putting a roof over her won't help now. She needs to be indoors, even if the shop isn't heated, she would be out of the elements. Who knows, maybe some day...

Ken
www.nfrm.ca

The information on the following site is 2 years old. It doesn't look like anything has happened since.

http://friendsof6218.ca/

This group sent us at the Elgin County Railway Museum at letter about the same time asking for a donation. They were barking up the wrong tree. Like any other railway preservation group funds are in short supply. We'll give you a donation if you give us a donation.

Ok, so as luck would have it, a week ago the Niagara Railway Museum Inc. had a fair amount of photo slides donated to us. 14 carousels to be exact, which is somewhere around 1000 slides!! In those, as of right now maybe 400 are Niagara, then theres a whole whack of CP 1201, and the double header trips with 136 & 1057. There's a bunch of other stuff too like Cass, and a trip through the rockies, as well as a bit of the CN 70tonners on PEI.

Anyways, I've started scanning a bunch of them tonight and in the pile were some of 6060 with 6218 at Fort Erie. I'm posting these 2 images as it was asked if 6060 towed 6218 into Fort Erie, in which the answer was yes, and here she is doing just that. The first pic is the 2 engines side by side on the shop tracks outside the diesel shop. We have rebuilt these 2 tracks and are working on the turnout to connect them again.

Nice to see the proof, Ken! Thanks!