Steam & Excursion > What A Shame It Was That We Lost This Locomotive To The Scrapper!

While we are fortunate that some examples of certain types of steam locomotives were saved for future generations, we must remember the ones that were not save none the less.

For those of us in the West, the loss of Northern Pacific's #2626 still stings to this day.  This big 4-8-4 Northern was turned out in 1930 by ALCO specially equipped with all Timken roller bearings.  She was originally #1111 and given the the name "Four Aces" along with the "Timken Engine".  She spent her first 100,000 miles as a demonstrator locomotive on many different mainline railroads all over the U.S.  Finally, in 1933, the NP purchased her and gave her the number, #2626.

She was always kept in first class condition on the NP due to the pride that railroad took in having acquired this famous locomotive.  Towards the end of her operating career she was called on to head several excursion trains which caused her fame to spread.  With steam winding down on the NP, there were several serious efforts made to insure the survival of #2626.  It had always been assumed that this special locomotive would certainly be saved.

Thus, you can imagine the shock that was felt by railfans when #2626 was delivered to the NP' South Tacoma scrap yard in September, 1958.  In just a couple of days this locomotive that had once been the pride of the NP, was reduced to nothing more than a pile of metal pieces.

What a sad loss for all of us.

Martin



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/12/20 04:06 by LoggerHogger.

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I remember this very well.  The NP cited poverty (to some degree true) and claimed that the scrap value of 2626 was just too much to forego.  The NP was actually very generous in donating locomotives to on-line communities, but always small, light ones. 

Gordon

Scrap value was high (1950's speaking).  T&P # 638 was sold for $5,000 to scrap dealer.

Painted Silver and "Green" ?

Jim Baker
Riverside, CA

That was a big loss.  A historic engine that should have been saved.  Of course, there are a lot of engines that could have been saved back then but weren't.
NYC, MP come to mind.

As has been said many, many times, you can't save them all.

RailRat Wrote:
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> Painted Silver and "Green" ?

Might have been, at one time. Photos exist of 2626 after April 1949 as oil-burner which is what she was at time of scrapping.

 

gbmott Wrote:
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> I remember this very well.  The NP cited poverty
> (to some degree true) and claimed that the scrap
> value of 2626 was just too much to forego.  The
> NP was actually very generous in donating
> locomotives to on-line communities, but always
> small, light ones. 
>
> Gordon

Ive heard old heads say the NP was pretty cheap.