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Caption: CN #96 was a Mogul (2-6-0) built in 1910. Began as GT 1024, then to 926, and after merger with CN became their 96. It was on display in Steamtown when that collection was located near Bellows Falls, VT by the Connecticut River. When the man behind this venture, Nelson Blount, died, the whole collection became in limbo and resulted in Steamtown being relocated to Scranton, PA as we know it now. The CN 96 was deemed non-essential and as a result was obtained by Horst Muller of Ontario. As far as I know the locomotive was heading for an enginehouse in Preston. And as far as I knew I was going to catch it enroute. This February morning was a real stinker, damp, dark, dull, foggy as all get out, and upon arriving at Fort Erie to wait for it, I felt it was a lost cause. However, with the 'Sidekick' in tow for company, we walked the yard killing time and there it was!!! Not easy to see until one was within 6 or 7 carlengths. So this is the resulting photo. Deep within the yard. I am not sure who else might have caught it, if anyone, oddly enough the fog became even more dense as the morning wore on, and either the engine was hauled out during said fog or under cover of darkness, because the next morning it was gone. I did not hear another peep about it other than a couple of magazine comments that it was actually in Ontario. Someone said it went to Waterford but I was unable to find it. Then I heard it was in Brantford. Yep. Decaying away behind a fenced off area looking so poorly as if it had no future. It languished a few years there. Ignored. In 1994 it was rescued, and went back to the United States where it became the property of the Ohio Central based in Morgan Run Ohio; not far from Brewster. It is currently on display, non-operative.
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I am constantly amazed by your outstanding photo collection Arnold—thank you for sharing
Thanks for the nice comment. Wandering around does pay off over time.
) I get a lot of pleasure out of this as well. I am seeing tired old prints coming alive again as they are reproduced onto the screen. Marvellous, the technology of today.
Interesting photo. We often wonder where the bell when missing and i see it’s still there in your photo. By the time I caught up with in Guelph the bell was gone. Rumor has it that someone at the Toronto yard grabed it. I followed it all the way to preston and have the uncut CKCO video of them putting it in the Grand River Railway shops. Never heard much after that, but I did see in Brantford behind the fence.
Nice Shot!
Thanks for your comment and support, lad. I was unaware at the time I posted this the story about the bell……but you have reminded me. I did note one numberboard missing up top and the builders plate was a rather poor reproduction on a board to replace the original.. that probably was ‘lifted’ long ago as well. I’ll have to locate my pics of it I took in Steamtown to see what was what. Why was it pulled from the GRR shop? Was this around when they were demolished? I plum fergit.
She’s at the Age of Steam Roundhouse, in Ohio. The loco is stored, but unlikely to be returned to service. Many of her parts were used to maintain Steamtown’s #89, now at Strasburg. Nelson Blount must be rolling in his grave at the way his precious collection was spread around. Fortunately, many have landed in capable hands, and many have steamed again.