Canadian railway preservation groups Waterloo Central Railway (WCR) and Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society (SOLRS) have acquired ex-Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) G5c class 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive No. 1238.
The Montreal Locomotive Works built the locomotive in 1946, and its acquisition will make the Waterloo Central Railway home to Canada's second-largest operating steam locomotive. It will also enable the railway to offer even more unique experiences for the community and tourism and provide Southern Ontario with a landmark destination.
Waterloo Central Railway is owned and operated by the Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society, which is a not-for-profit, registered charitable organization. Once 1238 has been restored to operational condition, along with Waterloo Central Railway's WCRX No. 9 which is currently being restored, Waterloo Central will be one of the very few heritage railways in Canada that can offer two fully operational steam locomotives.
No. 1238 returned to Canada in 2015 after spending over 50 years in the United States. It was brought back under the ownership and operation of the Vintage Locomotive Society (VLS), the organisation behind the Prairie Dog Central Railway. Although it has been well-maintained by past owners and is currently in very good shape, it requires some restoration work to make it fully operational.
To acquire 1238, the Waterloo Central Railway set a target to raise $150,000 by December 29 2023, which it achieved and showed tremendous support for the project from the community. David Banks, President of SOLRS, emphasized the ongoing need for community support, stating, “Our journey is not over; this historic locomotive is in great condition, however, additional donations are crucial to complete the work required to bring it back into operation. Your continued support will help us steam ahead to complete restoration.”
Once 1238 is back in steam, it will become a cornerstone of the railway's mission to bring history to life. Bob Fallowfield, General Manager of the Waterloo Central Railway expressed excitement about the acquisition, stating, “We're thrilled to keep this unique piece of Canadian railway history on Canadian soil and bring it back to life here.”
Reflecting on the collaborative effort with VLS, expressed gratitude to the community, Bob Fallowfield continued “It has been an incredible journey collaborating with VLS to preserve history, and the support from our local community has been nothing short of inspiring.”
The Waterloo Central Railway aims to continue to educate future generations on the unique history of Canada's railways and to develop a more informed and enlightened future through the threads of our past. Further information about the restoration project and to donate towards the legacy of steam locomotive No. 1238 can be found at wcrsteam.ca.
