Steam & Excursion > A Climax That Would Not Die - Canadian Forest #252!

Throughout the West at the end of steam powered logging there were a number of operators who found was to convert their old geared steam locomotives into diesel powered engines. Canadian Forest Products of Englewood B.C. was one such operator.

CFP #252 shown here in May 1975 was born in July 1920 at the Corry, Pennsylvania Climax Locomotive Works as a 45-ton 2-truck steam powered Climax. After going through a couple of other owners on Vancouver Island, B.C., she was sold in 1941 to CFP.

By 1952 CFP felt that the Climax was worn out for her intended duties but that she could still be used as a base to build a new diesel powered locomotive. Here are the final results. Originally her Climax trucks were retained and used along with her Climax frame. This photo shows the trucks are gone and that she is sitting on a pair of skidder moving trucks. Since this photo was taken shortly before her scrapping, I believe that she has simply been removed from her Climax trucks and the frame and engine is merely resting on these trucks. This fact is born out by the fact that the rear engine house for #252 has also been removed.

No one can say that this Climax did not give her all to the logging industry for which she was built.


Martin



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/15/14 04:09 by LoggerHogger.

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wow LOL

Wow, talk about a ugly duck!

There's a prototype for everything!

What did CFP use #252 for, maintenance of way? It seems that they had decent sized rod engines and EMD diesels of the log haul trains.

#252 was used in light duty and around the Nimpkish shops. She lasted for nearly 20 years in service as a diesel so she must have worked out satisfactorily.

Martin