Grand Trunk Western 4070

This USRA light 2-8-2 "Mikado" type locomotive was built in 1918 by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) in Schenectady, NY and assigned to Grand Trunk, which numbered it originally as 474. Sometime in the 1930s a Coffin feedwater heater was installed, and with other improvements, the number was changed by the GTW to 3734. This steam locomotive's road career consisted of pulling freight and passenger services in Michigan. After falling into a turntable in June 1955,[1] the locomotive was shopped and given a larger tender, and the locomotive's number was changed to 4070. The 4070 continued to pull regular duty until March 1960, when it pulled its final revenue freight, from Pontiac to Durand, MI and then was retired. The locomotive was sold to Lou Keller. In 1966 the Midwest Railway Historical Foundation (now MRPS) acquired the engine on a five-year lease. It was then moved to Chicago, where it was gone over by Dick Jensen and his crew.

The year 1968 saw the 4070 pulling excursions through Chicago, Valparaiso, and the South Bend. In 1969, the 4070 pulled some excursions in Pennsylvania. The 4070 was also used at Conneaut Lake Park in PA. In 1971, MRHF bought out the lease. At one time in the early 1970s the 4070 was stored underneath Cleveland's Terminal Tower. In 1975 it was selected to be used on the newly created Cuyahoga Valley Line - now known as the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. In 1977, the 4070 performed a doubleheader along the famed Horseshoe Curve with Reading T-1 4-8-4 "Northern" 2102.[2] However, that trip was plagued with mechanical issues; while on the curve, the 4070 threw an eccentric rod, and the busy Conrail line where their train sat had to be shut down for several hours. After the incident, Conrail banned steam operations for the next several years. The 4070 had its rods repaired and was brought back to pull passenger trains on the Cuyahoga Valley Line. Additionally, in 1983, the locomotive was painted as Chicago, Burlington and Quincy 4070, and run to South Dayton, NY, for filming in the movie The Natural, starring Robert Redford, and released in 1984. After the movie, it continued service on the CVL until encountering mechanical difficulties in 1990. Upon inspection, 4070 was found to be in need of repairs. Seeing that the cost of the repairs would be prohibitive, 4070 was once again retired from service.[3]

In 2011 the process started of restoring the locomotive to operational condition at the Midwest Railway Preservation Society[4] in Cleveland, Ohio. The locomotive boiler and tender have both been tested using ultrasound. The locomotive must have its drypipe, and front and rear tube sheets replaced. In addition, the smokebox, firebox, frame, running gear, driving boxes, tender and many assorted parts all need major work before 4070 can be operational. The estimated cost of 4070's restoration is $1,290,000.[5] When the money is funded, the restoration time would be set at around two years or more.

"Evening Before The Diesel" by Charles R. Foss

• Railroad Picture Archive: GTW 4070

• Steamlocomotive.com