Great Northern 2584

Great Northern 2584 is a 4-8-4 "Northern" type steam locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1930 for the Great Northern Railway (GN) as a member of the S-2 class. The locomotive was built for passenger service and was assigned to pull the Great Northern's mainline passenger trains until being retired in December 1957 and donated for display in Havre, Montana. It is the sole surviving Great Northern S-2 Class "Northern", the sole surviving Great Northern "Northern" type and the largest surviving Great Northern steam locomotive.

Great Northern 2584
GN 2584 and nearby sculpture, U.S.–Canada Friendship in Havre, Montana
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works Serial number 61238 Build date March 1930
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-8-4  • UIC 2′D2′ h2 Gauge 4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Leading dia. 36 in (914 mm) Driver dia. 80 in (2,032 mm) Trailing dia. 46 in (1,168 mm) Wheelbase 91.17 ft (27,789 mm) Adhesive weight 247,300 lb (112,200 kilograms; 112.2 metric tons) Loco weight 420,900 lb (190,900 kilograms; 190.9 metric tons) Tender weight 326,560 lb (148,130 kilograms; 148.13 metric tons) Total weight 747,460 lb (339,040 kilograms; 339.04 metric tons) Tender type Vanderbilt Fuel type Fuel oil Fuel capacity 5,800 US gal (22,000 l; 4,800 imp gal) oil Water cap 17,250 US gal (65,300 l; 14,360 imp gal) Firebox:  • Firegrate area 97.75 sq ft (9.081 m^2) Boiler 84 in (2,134 mm) Boiler pressure 225 lbf/in^2 (1.55 MPa) Heating surface:  • Firebox 401 sq ft (37.3 m^2) Cylinders Two Cylinder size 29 in × 29 in (737 mm × 737 mm) Valve gear Walschaert
Performance figures Maximum speed At least 100 mph (160 km/h) Tractive effort 58,305 lbf (259.35 kN) Factor of adh. 4.24
Career Operators Great Northern Class S-2 Number in class 10th of 14 Numbers GN 2584 Last run Late 1956 Retired December 1957 Disposition On display in Havre, Montana

Service history

When delivered to the Great Northern, 2584 was assigned to the railroad's premier passenger trains such as the Empire Builder and Oriental Limited as well as fast mail trains. In 1945, the locomotive was fitted with Timken roller bearings, replacing its original friction bearings. By 1949, the railroad had dieselized its premier passenger trains and the locomotive was then reassigned to secondary passenger trains and freight service, of which the latter service was proven to be rather unsuitable for it due to being designed as a passenger locomotive and by the 1950s, No. 2584 and her sister locomotives were painted from their original "Glacier Park" green to black.[1]

Accident

On August 9, 1945, No. 2584 was involved in a wreck, however, the locomotive was undamaged, as the rear of its train was rear-ended by sister locomotive No. 2588 at 45 mph. No. 2584's tender, however, has suffered from a hot box and has stopped at Petersburg and again at Michigan prior to the wreck.[1][2]

Preservation

No. 2584 was retired in December 1957 and on March 21, 1958, the Great Northern had decided to hold it for historical purposes. The locomotive was then put on display at the Havre, Montana depot on May 15, 1964 and currently resides there today in its original "Glacier Park" green paint scheme.[1]

References

1. http://www.greatnorthernempire.net/index2.htm?GNEGN_S2_Class.htm GN S-2 Class
2. Passenger Train Consists of the 1940s. Wayner Publications. p. 31.

• Keyes, Norman C., Jr.; Middleton, Kenneth R. (Autumn 1980). "The Great Northern Railway Company: All-Time Locomotive Roster, 1861–1970". Railroad History. Boston, Mass.: Railway and Locomotive Historical Society. 143: 114. ISSN 0090-7847. JSTOR 43523930.