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Canadian Collieries 14collection careNorthern Pacific Railway 924steam locomotivesteam programUnion Colliery 4

Steam program announced

October 22, 2014September 1st, 2024
On October 20, 2014, the Northwest Railway Museum officially announced plans for a steam locomotive program and identified the locomotives that have been selected for rehabilitation, restoration, and operation. This is an exciting time for the Museum and represents continuing fulfillment of the long-term plan first developed nearly 20 years ago.
The steam program will be integrated into the Museum’s interpretive railway and has been developed with data measured during this year’s pilot steam program that continues in operation through this coming weekend, October 25 and 26.  In 2015, summer steam trains will formally launch and operate. This introductory program will operate Memorial Day weekend, most weekends in July and August, Labor Day weekend, and Halloween Train weekend in October.  Following completion of the first of the Museum’s steam locomotive rehabilitations/restorations, the program is tentatively scheduled to expand beginning in late 2016.
Steam locomotives were a driving force throughout much of Washington State’s history.  They pulled trains throughout the Northwest beginning with the arrival of the first railroads in the 1870s and dominated transportation in Washington until diesel electric locomotives replaced them in the late 1950s at the dawn of the Interstate Highway era.  Steam locomotives transported goods and people during the latter half of westward expansion and fostered the development and settlement of communities across Washington State and King County.
Northern Pacific Railway locomotive 924 selected first
Former Northern Pacific L-5 #924 in Kimbal Creek Yard prior to move to CRW for restoration.Beginning immediately and over the next two years, the Museum will rehabilitate and restore former Northern Pacific Railway 924, a 0-6-0 (six-coupled) locomotive.  Built by Rogers Locomotive and Machine Works in 1899 for the St. Paul and Duluth Railroad as their number 74, the locomotive was renumbered 924 after that road was purchased by the Northern Pacific Railway. In the early 1900s it was Seattle’s King Street Station coach yard switcher, later serving the Seattle and Tacoma yards, and in light branch line service.  Sold in 1925 to the Inland Empire Paper Company in Millwood, Washington she remained on their roster until 1969.

​This locomotive is a classic example of late 19th century Northwest switching and branch line steam locomotives.  When the locomotive is complete, the Museum will be the only American institution operating class one steam west of Colorado with regionally appropriate motive power and rolling stock on its original railroad. 
Two operating locomotives will allow the steam program to continue during scheduled maintenance and periodic servicing and will allow for expanded service during large events.  Consequently, the Museum is planning for the operation of two steam locomotives.

Canadian Collieries locomotive 14 selected as second.

Former Canadian Collieries #14 in Kimbal Creek Yard post evaluation for restoration to service.Following completion of steam locomotive 924, the Museum will begin the complete rehabilitation of steam locomotive 14, a classic 4-6-0 (“ten-wheeler”) locomotive.  The 14 was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1898 for the Union Colliery Company as their number 4 using the same design developed for the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway.  When that Vancouver Island mine was absorbed into Canadian Collieries, it was renumbered 14 and continued in service until 1960 when it was purchased by the Museum.   
Canadian Collieries 14 is a classic Baldwin ten-wheeler that will allow the Museum to provide a complete and authentic experience recreating railway passenger service from the first two decades of the 20th century.  Ten-wheelers were the most popular and greatest-produced locomotive of all time and examples were found on nearly every major railroad in the Northwest, including the lines of the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway that ran through Snoqualmie.

 

Making it happen!

The Museum is making a significant commitment to steam by investing in people and facilities.  A qualified team of paid and volunteer staff with prior experience in steam locomotive rehabilitation and restoration has been assembled.

The machinery required to perform the work has already been obtained for all aspects of boiler and running gear work.  The work will be performed inside the Conservation and Restoration Center, the purpose-built collections care facility opened in 2007 and already equipped with an inspection pit, a monolithic floor, and utilities including sanitary sewer with oil-water separator that allow the Museum to maintain the locomotives in an environmentally responsible manner.  

Several major grants and contributions have been pledged and work will begin next week; additional fundraising will be performed during the next 24 months to offset costs that will approach $1 million.  Contributions are encouraged and will be used to directly pay for the work performed; they can be made on the Museum’s secure web site here and are tax- deductible to the extent permitted by law.   

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