October 27, 2017
Group - During January 1957, the Q reportedly leased eight Class O-5-A
4-8-4's to the Grand Trunk Western (GTW) for about a two week time period.
This was to alleviate a short term power shortage on the GTW caused by their
loaning a similar number of 4-8-4's to parent Canadian National (CN). To
my knowledge, this was the only instance of O-5-A's being leased to another
foreign railroad.
Does anyone know what specific O-5-A's were leased and any details of the
arrangement such as how the 4-8-4's were moved from the Clyde roundhouse in
Cicero to the GWT's Elsdon roundhouse located at West
49th Street and South Kedzie Avenue in south Chicago.? Did a Q RFE
stay with the 4-8-4's while they were on the GTW? The only image I have
ever seen of an O-5-A on the GTW is inserted/attached below:
This 1957 image shows the 5633 (right) and GTW 6322 on the Elsdon
roundhouse ready track. I'd very much like to see images of 5633 and its
sisters operating over the GTW between, I assume, Chicago and Detroit. Some time
in the past, I recall reading in a now forgotten publication that the
GTW engine crews were impressed with the O-5-A's power and handling
characteristics compared to their own 4-8-4's.
As late as this was in the steam era, I'm a little surprised that more
images haven't appeared of the O-5-A's running over the GTW, or en
route from Clyde to Elsdon Also, there seems to be almost no record
of the event itself. If anyone in this Group knows of a GTW interest
group, I'd appreciate them spreading this Email to them in hope that
someone out there might know more about this event. Best Regards -
Louis
Louis Zadnichek II
Fairhope, AL
