Waterloo Central Railway in St. Jacobs, Ontario, has announced that they have raised the funds to acquire Canadian Pacific No. 1238, a 4-6-2 steam locomotive, and plan to restore it to operation. In July 2023 the railroad announced that it needed $150,000 by December 29 to obtain the locomotive, and that deadline was met.
No. 1238 was built in 1946 by the Montreal Locomotive Works. Classified as a G5, the locomotive’s time in revenue service on Canadian Pacific was cut short due to dieselization. In 1964, the locomotive was purchased by George Hart and used on excursion trains throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Maryland. Jack Showalter then purchased the locomotive in 1973 for use on excursions throughout Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland. No. 1238 returned to Canada in 2015 after being purchased by a private owner after Showalter’s death.
The locomotive is currently in storage at the Prairie Dog Central Railway in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Waterloo Central is raising funds for the move and restoration. More information can be found on the Waterloo Central’s website.
Image from the Waterloo Central website.
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