Canadian National 47


The Canadian National 47 is a preserved class "X-10-a" 4-6-4T type tank locomotive located at Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It is one of only three preserved CN 4-6-4Ts and is the only Baltic-type suburban tank locomotive remaining in the United States.

History

The 47 was built by the Montreal Locomotive Works in September 1914 for the Grand Trunk Railway as its 1542, class K2, but became a CN locomotive after the creation of the Canadian National Railway in 1923. Its CN classification was X-10-a. Along with its sister locomotives, 47 was based in Montreal and was used exclusively in commuter service. Following retirement in 1959, 47 was sold to F. Nelson Blount, and it became a part of his collection in North Walpole, New Hampshire. 47 was the first locomotive to run as a Steamtown excursion locomotive, and was intended to become the primary excursion power. It had been given a fresh overhaul in 1958 and was in top mechanical condition when acquired. However, it steamed for only five weeks in 1961 as the Interstate Commerce Commission denied its boiler certification. The maintenance records had been lost in a roundhouse fire in Canada, and it was not possible to verify her boiler condition to government inspectors without an expensive overhaul.
The locomotive was put on static display in North Walpole after its last run and was later moved across the Connecticut River with the rest of the Steamtown, U.S.A. collection to Bellows Falls, Vermont. 47 was later moved with the rest of the collection to the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where it currently remains on static display today.