Everyone's favorite "Bullet-Nose Betty" (except me; I'm partial to sister #6069 here in Sarnia) is alive and well, albeit not on the mainline. Better than nothing I suppose. According to her website, she does about 4 trips a year out there in Canadian Wilderness.

Like CPR, I think CN will have to go through a serious change of management before you see mainline steam there again. Unofficially, steam is not banned on the mainline ---- as long as you have the insurance money ready to go up front (and most of us don't, trust me). Adding a "steam program", however ---- maybe in my son or daughter's lifetime.... but probably not mine.

Anyway, #6060's homepage, in case there's interest.

http://www.6060.org/

The 6069 is the firsty big steamer i saw. We used to vacation in Frankenmuth,Mi every summer. A couple of times we went to Canada, an a couple of times we visited the 6069. I have pictures Dad took when I was a kid, and tghere were a couple of cabooses with her. When I visited her in the mid '90s, they were gone. Any idea what happened to them? Thanks

Your correct there were two cabooses with her --- but when she was moved to her new display site (when the Bluewater Bridge Plaza expanded in the mid 1970's), the condition and maintenance of them was such (both being wood) that they were transferred to other groups. Its my understanding was that one was GTW and the other CN, somewhat symbolizing the Canadian/ American border link between Port Huron and Sarnia.

Unfortunately, I have only found where one, ex- GTW #77137, went. In this case, it was moved to Toronto and York Division of the Canadian Railroad Historical Association in about 1974, and later was transferred to Smith Falls, Ontario buy a new owner for storage in the mid 1990's. Thankfully, the car is now safe and sound after donation (and under cover) at Elgin County Railway Museum in St. Thomas.

Below is a link to its history/ current location in St. Thomas, Ontario, and a couple of pictures of it has looked over the years --- in much better shape some ex-GTW #77000 series cabooses, which have suffered fates as benign as neglect and as sadistic as fire. The first is Toronto in 1979 --- the second Smith Falls in 1998.

By the way --- #6069 got a well-deserved paint job last year, and is on display now with a nice fence around her, with agreat plaque giving some much needed description as well.


TJG



http://www.ecrm5700.org/gtw_caboose.htm

thanks for the info. Glad to hear the 6069 got a new coat of paint. Probably good that they put a fence up, but I'm glad to have the picture of me on one of her running boards.