Canadian National 7470

Conway Scenic Railroad (Canadian National) No. 7470 is a preserved class "O-18-a" 0-6-0 "Switcher" type steam locomotive at Conway Scenic Railroad in North Conway, New Hampshire.

Canadian National 7470
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderGrand Trunk Railway
Serial number22/1500
ModelF9
Build dateJune 1921
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte0-6-0
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Driver dia.51 inches (130 cm)
Loco weight87 tons (79 t)
Tender weight65 tons (59 t)
Total weight152 tons (138 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Boiler pressure175 pounds-force per square inch (1.21 MPa)
Cylinders2
Cylinder size22 in × 26 in (559 mm × 660 mm)
Train brakesWestinghouse air brakes
Performance figures
Tractive effort36,700 lbf (163.25 kN)
Career
OperatorsGrand Trunk Railway, Canadian National Railway, Canada Dominion Sugar, Conway Scenic Railroad
ClassCN O-18-a
Numbers
  • GTR 1795
  • CN 7470
  • CDS 303
  • CSRX 47
  • CSRX 7470
Retired1960 (revenue service)
RestoredAugust 3, 1974
Current ownerConway Scenic Railroad
Dwight Smith (original owner, acquired in 1968)
DispositionOperational, based in Conway, New Hampshire

History

The locomotive was built by the Grand Trunk Railway at Pointe-Saint-Charles in June 1921.[1] The Grand Trunk classified the switcher as F9 Class and numbered it as 1795.[1] When the Canadian National Railway absorbed the Grand Trunk in 1923, they reclassified it as an O-18-a and renumbered it as 7470.[1]

After retirement, 7470 was spared scrapping by being sold to Canada Dominion Sugar, where it spent some additional years as a switcher, were it was renumbered as 303.[1] In 1964, it was purchased by the Ontario government for a transportation museum that never came to fruition, and in 1968 it was sold to Dwight Smith.[2]

Dwight Smith was working on founding the Conway Scenic Railroad, which opened in 1974. 7470 return to active service on August 3, 1974 and was renumbered as Conway Scenic 47, it made its excursion return run on August 4, 1974.[1] it was the new railroad's only locomotive in its earliest years. The old number 7470 and Canadian National paint scheme were restored in 1988 according to Railfan & Railroad magazine.

Today, 7470 mainly operates in mid-September and October seasons only, for Railfan's Weekend and Steam in the Snow in January where it is hosted by the Mass Bay Railroad Enthusiasts. It used to run during summer months as well, but ended in 2007, excluding special excursions. 7470 has also pulled the Notch Train on rare occasions for special events, once in 2007, 2011, and twice in 2019.

In July 2014, it was announced that 7470 was going to be coming out of service due to a major federally mandated inspection and overhaul. 7470 ran its last train on January 3, 2015, and its overhaul work began the following day. It returned to active service on June 1, 2019 and made its first test runs under its own power for the first time since January 3, 2015. 7470 made its excursion return on June 29, 2019. 7470 also made another notch appearance on September 1st, 2019. It pulled its first ever Steam in the snow event since 2015 on January 4th, 2020.

7470 is expected to run fifteen more years again until 2034, when its next overhaul work is due.

7470 made its first ever film appearance in the 1972 Paramount Pictures film A Separate Peace, lettered as Boston & Maine 47.[1]

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See also

References
  1. https://www.issuu.com/wiseguycreative/docs/mwv-vibe-fall19/s/161701
  2. "Old Time Trains". Retrieved 2014-09-17.

Further reading

Hallett, Paul. "Conway Scenic Railroad -- Steam Engine #7470". Archived from the original on 2014-09-29. Retrieved 2014-09-17.

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