Canadian National Railways 89 Returns *PIC*

John Craft · **Posted:** Mon Oct 20, 2003 6:18 pm

As has been previously hinted here, Jim Gunning and I have been working with the Strasburg Rail Road on a photo special with 2-6-0 no. 89. Work began in April, and culminated last Thursday with the special.

Strasburg employees dug out "jewelry" that was taken off the locomotive when it arrived in 1972 and was "Pennsy-fied." I'll let Linn Moedinger spin a few tales about mud here if he so chooses, but what began as a one-off temporary cosmetic job turned into a complete makeover and backdating.

David Spiegelman and Stafford Swain, both Canadians, provided drawings and decals, and we all pored over photos to "get it right." You really must take a close look at the hand-lettered "tilted wafer" on the tender sometime - it is truly a work of art.

Kurt Bell worked with the Strasburg folks and Wayne James to cast a new number plate.

OK, enough words for now - enjoy the images.

JAC

John Craft · **Posted:** Mon Oct 20, 2003 6:20 pm

The Strasburg Rail Road can put together a VERY authentic freight train, as can be seen here. These cars are all on the property - we didn't have to dip into the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania's stock.

JAC

John Craft · **Posted:** Mon Oct 20, 2003 6:21 pm

One of the local farm families cooperated on a few runbys to put an "Amish" twist on the day:

John Craft · **Posted:** Mon Oct 20, 2003 6:22 pm

Jeff Slupski · **Posted:** Mon Oct 20, 2003 6:34 pm

YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Sorry, just had to applaude the Strasburg. Beautiful job, great pictures, and I noticed a Canadian Whistle on her instead of the Pennsy one.

mcc385@yahoo.com

John Craft · **Posted:** Mon Oct 20, 2003 6:57 pm

I'd like to thank Linn Moedinger; all the Strasburg employees from the business office onward; Kurt Bell, Stafford Swain, and Dave Spiegelman; and the 35 rail enthusiasts who stumped up the money for this makeover and photo special. Linn and I have already talked about N&W no. 475 next, and once discussed returning no. 89 to its pre-1951 number, 911.

The Strasburg Rail Road is a wonderful host, and I'd encourage you to visit next time you're in the area.

JAC

David Ackerman · **Posted:** Mon Oct 20, 2003 7:02 pm

Who says you can't build a time machine? H. G. Wells eat your heart out! Well done.

Sincerely,
David Ackerman

david_ackerman@yahoo.com

Joshua K. Blay · **Posted:** Mon Oct 20, 2003 7:24 pm

475 has been in its N&W livery on Strasburg before. Has notable 90 ever been in GW livery since coming east?

Joshua

Homepage
joshua@joshuakblay.com

L Beckman · **Posted:** Mon Oct 20, 2003 7:33 pm

> The Strasburg Rail Road can put together a
> VERY authentic freight train, as can be seen
> here. These cars are all on the property -
> we didn't have to dip into the Railroad
> Museum of Pennsylvania's stock.

> JAC

First of all...a WELL DONE to the Strasburg RR and those who worked on the "backdating" of the Mogul. BUT, for those of us also interested in freight cars, how about a quick run down of the consist? I know the first car is a single sheathed (outside braced) boxcar but how about some particulars on it and the others? Thanks.

Les Beckman (HVRM)

midlandblb@cs.com

Dave Albright · **Posted:** Mon Oct 20, 2003 7:39 pm

Thanks so much for sharing the photos. I made sure to eat as often as possible on Thursday so the sun would stay out for you (think back to the 1925 trip). Hehe

sirterp@myactv.net

Steve Singeer · **Posted:** Mon Oct 20, 2003 7:57 pm

Wonderful photos, John. I live in Phila & play in a blues band in Lancaster once a month. Always come up Rt 741 to see what's up on the Strasburg.

bas1210@comcast.net

Kevin · **Posted:** Mon Oct 20, 2003 8:05 pm

John,
A remarkable restoration and great photos of a beautiful Canadian engine. Kudos to all involved!
Now, do you think you can do something about that CN Northern up in Guelph? :)
Kevin

Erik Ledbetter · **Posted:** Mon Oct 20, 2003 8:07 pm

I know the first car is a single
> sheathed (outside braced) boxcar but how
> about some particulars on it and the others?
> Thanks.

As best I can recall from memory:

CV 40025 outside-braced wooden boxcar
Rutland 6081 40' steel-end wooden boxcar
733 (or 713) Ma and Pa wooden boxcar (non-interchange service!)
wooden flat car (marped WP, real parent road unk)
Two-bay hopper (parent road unknown)
Two-bay ballast hopper (Ma & Pa 302?)
Wooden flat car (parent road unknown)
713 (or 733) Ma and Pa wooden boxcar
PRR 96451 XL class wooden boxcar
Rutland 9194 40' steel-end wooden boxcar
Strasburg wooden caboose 12 ex DT&I Caboose #95

eledbetter@rypn.org

K.R. Bell · **Posted:** Mon Oct 20, 2003 10:01 pm

John Craft, Linn Moedinger and his staff did a first-class job all the way. It was a real treat to be a brakeman on the morning run and I must confess I had a "timeless" moment or two, where it felt like 1950 and not 2003. Even switching out the Rutland car midway through the day had all of the trappings from the days of steam.

BTW if you'd like to see 89 operating in her full CNR livery, she's operating on the train most of this week. I heard she may run only during the week.

Kudos to John Craft for organizing a superb trip. His runs are not to be missed!

Long live Canadian steam :-)

> John,
> A remarkable restoration and great photos of
> a beautiful Canadian engine. Kudos to all
> involved!
> Now, do you think you can do something about
> that CN Northern up in Guelph? :)
> Kevin

Ted Miles · **Posted:** Mon Oct 20, 2003 10:49 pm

John you and all the Strasburg folks have done a great job there. And I make no bones the fact that my favorite Canadian railroad is the CPR!

As I have said here many times before, telling the real story is history as it should be.

I have ridden behidn the Great Western 90 it would be great to see it back to great Western
colors and equipment.

Ted Miles

ted_miles@nps.gov