Grand Trunk Western 5030
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The Grand Trunk Western 5030 is a Class J-3b 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1912 for the Grand Trunk Western Railroad. The locomotive was mainly used for freight service by the GTW, often making runs between Durand and Bay City. On June 5, 1923, the No. 5030 was involved in a serious train derailment that killed five people, but was repaired and returned to freight work.
The engine was donated to the City of Jackson, Michigan in 1957 when it was retired from service, going on display in North Lawn Park just off Lansing Ave. In February 2021, the locomotive was purchased by the Colebrookdale Railroad of Boyertown, Pennsylvania for restoration to operating condition for use on tourist excursions.
As of 2023, No. 5030 is awaiting an eventual restoration to operating condition by the Colebrookdale Railroad for use in tourist excursion service.
History[edit]
Revenue service
Grand Trunk Western No. 5030 is a 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotive built in October 1912 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Grand Trunk Western Railroad. The locomotive was the first of 39 J-3b class locomotives built for the GTW.[1] During the No. 5030's revenue service, the locomotives boiler was replaced with a new one, resulting in several changes, including a 24% reduction in the number of boiler tubes from 181 to 139.[2] Another change was the installation of 50 sq ft of new thermic syphons, increasing the locomotives total heating surface to 231 sq ft.[3] No. 5030 was mainly used for freight service by the railroad, although the locomotive occasionally made passenger runs between Durand and Bay City.[4] The locomotive also made passenger runs in and out of Jackson. On June 5, 1923, No. 5030, while pulling the Knights Templar Special passenger train, the locomotive derailed because of poor ballast conditions. The trains destination was Flint based on the 67th annual conclave of the Grand Commandery of Michigan Knights Templar. The train was established to carry members to the Masonic convention. One of the specifications given was that the crew of No. 5030 on that day be members of the Order of Nighthood. The first part of the journey was from Grand Rapids to Ionia St. John's, where the train picked up more passengers.[5] At about 9:30 that day, the locomotive crossed a split rail at Clark's Crossing at Durand. The split rail caused the No. 5030 and the tender to derail and turn over.[6] As a result, the impact destroyed the first two cars of the train consist and derailing all except two of the passenger cars a mile west of Durand. Five people ended up being killed in the disaster and 32 people were injured.[7] Despite No. 5030 receiving damage, the locomotive was re-railed, repaired, and placed back into freight service. In the 1950's, as the GTW was dieselizing its fleet, the No. 5030 and its sister locomotives were withdrawn from revenue service as diesels were replaced steam. The No. 5030 was retired from revenue service on September 11, 1955, and put into storage at the Battle Creek yards.[8] The No. 5030 was also featured in the Green Frog video film "Steam in the 1950s".
Preservation
Instead of being scrapped like many of the GTW's other steam locomotives, the No. 5030 was donated in 1957 to the City of Jackson, Michigan and placed on static display North Lawn Park just off Lasing Ave with a historical marker being installed next to the locomotive.[9] By the end of the 1960's, the No. 5030 became the only member of the J-3b class to be preserved. For the next 64 years, the locomotive remained on static display, exposed to the elements and vandals. A number of parts would also be removed from the locomotive over the years. In February 2021, the locomotive was purchased by the Colebrookdale Railroad of Boyertown, Pennsylvania, an 8.6-mile tourist railroad. The Colebrookdale Railroad plans on restoring the No. 5030 to operating condition for use on excursion trains. The total cost of moving and restoring the locomotive is estimated to cost $2 million. As of 2023, the No. 5030 is awaiting an operational restoration for tourist excursion use by the Colebrookdale Railroad.
Historical Significance[edit]
No. 5030 is the only surviving member of the Grand Trunk Western Railroad's J-3b class of steam locomotives. The locomotive is also one of only two surviving GTW 4-6-2's, the other being K-4b No. 5632, based in Durand, Michigan. The No. 5632 was built in 1929 for the GTW and hauled commuter trains.[10] The locomotive was retired from revenue service and donated to the City of Durand, MI in 1961. It is now on static display close to Durand City Hall. The No. 5030 is also one of only seventeen preserved steam locomotives from the GTW.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ "Our Equipment". Colebrookdale Railroad. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
- ↑ "Our Equipment". Colebrookdale Railroad. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
- ↑ "GTW J-3-a #5030 - www.rgusrail.com". www.rgusrail.com. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
- ↑ Patriot, Susanne Weible | Jackson Citizen (July 7, 2008). "Engine part of railroad history". mlive. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
- ↑ Patriot, Susanne Weible | Jackson Citizen (July 7, 2008). "Engine part of railroad history". mlive. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
- ↑ Patriot, Susanne Weible | Jackson Citizen (July 7, 2008). "Engine part of railroad history". mlive. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
- ↑ "GTW J-3-a #5030 - www.rgusrail.com". www.rgusrail.com. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
- ↑ Patriot, Susanne Weible | Jackson Citizen (July 7, 2008). "Engine part of railroad history". mlive. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
- ↑ "GTW J-3-a #5030 - www.rgusrail.com". www.rgusrail.com. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
- ↑ "GTW K-4-b #5632 - www.rgusrail.com". www.rgusrail.com. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
Sources[edit]
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