ST. JACOBS, Ontario — Heritage operator Waterloo Central Railway operated its 0-6-0 locomotive No. 9 on Canada’s Thanksgiving weekend for the first time in two years, following a two-year retrofit and its 10-year boiler inspection from Ontario’s Technical Standards and Safety Authority.
The locomotive, built in 1923 by the Montreal Locomotive Works for the Essex Terminal Railway in Windsor, Ont., is one of only four working steam locomotives in Canada. It arrived in Waterloo in 2007 from the Elgin County Railway Museum in St. Thomas, Ont.
No. 9 operated two sold-out trips Oct. 10 from Waterloo Central’s St. Jacobs Market Station, built earlier this year. The locomotive ran well on the first trip, which highlighted its new boiler cladding and operational improvements, completed by volunteers at the railway’s St. Jacobs shop facility. On the second run, however, the railroad’s MLW S13 diesel, No. 1001, was needed to assist the 0-6-0 to Elmira, as the steam engine experienced some technical ailments. No. 9 still functioned well during its second scheduled photo runby of the trip.
Waterloo Central operates passenger excursions regularly on the spur between Waterloo and Elmira during St. Jacobs market days, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays. Visit the railway’s website for more information.
The Waterloo Central appears in some episodes of Murdoch Mysteries
Where are the other 3 operating steam locomotives?
Their list is a bit conservative. I can think of one place in BC alone with three operational geared locomotives, plus the Prairie Dog Central in Manitoba, South Simcoe Railway in Ontario, and several places in Alberta.
I am surprised there are only four operating steam locos in Canada…
Unless there are a number of them out of service, it appears the list is a bit larger.
https://www.steamlocomotive.com/survivors/?country=CAN