Power type Steam Build date August 1908 | Serial number 32894 | |
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Gauge 4 ft 8 ⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | ||
Canadian National 7312 is an 0-6-0 built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1908. It was purchased in 1960 and was the first steam locomotive on the Strasburg Rail Road.
History
7312 was originally built for the Grand Trunk Railway as number 118. The 118 was renumbered 1708 in September 1919. In January 1923, the Grand Trunk Railway was merged into the Canadian National Railway. Three months after the creation of Canadian National, 1708 was renumbered 7157, a number the locomotive carried until February 1952, when it was renumbered 7240. In 1957, the locomotive received its final CN number of 7312. In July, 1958, 7312 was retired at Stratford, Ontario, where it had been working as the shop switcher.
In June 1959, 7312 was discovered by Strasburg Rail Road Vice President Bud Swearer who was visiting the CN yard at Stratford. The Strasburg Rail Road had intended to purchase a steam locomotive to power freight and passenger excursions, and 7312 was of appropriate size for the operation. The Strasburg Rail Road negotiated the CN for the locomotive, which was ultimately purchased by a consortium of Strasburg Rail Road officials. Arriving at Strasburg in the summer of 1960, the locomotive was renumbered 31 and placed into service that September, becoming the first steam locomotive to reenter service in the United States. The locomotive was purchased outright by the Strasburg Rail Road in 1968. In 2008, 31 was renumbered 7312. It is currently undergoing a major rebuild, and has been out of commission since 2009.