The Salem and Hillsborough Railroad

Hillsborough, New Brunswick

History

This was built by Montreal Locomotive Works in 1940 (on order Q388) as a tender for U-2-E class 4-8-4 steam locomotive 6173. It is approximately 11.6m (38') long, and as built it weighed 58.3 tonnes (64 tons) and could carry 52,700 litres (11,600 Imperial gallons) of water and 16.4 tonnes (18 tons) of coal for a total operating weight of 127.4 tonnes (140 tons). To carry this weight it was equipped with 6-wheel Commonwealth trucks having 34.5" wheels and 6 x 11 journal bearings. The roller bearings have been replaced by friction bearings.

In 1960 the fire-fighting capabilities of the CN Atlantic Region were upgraded when CN Moncton Shops converted six late-model Vanderbilt tenders for this use. One more car, CN 52147, was the seventh and last, outshopped in 1961. As there were no more tenders available in Moncton, tender 6173 was shipped in from Montreal.

The coal compartment was made into a pump room and the water capacity was increased slightly. A standard draft gear and coupler were added to the front end and AB brakes were installed. CN 52147 was assigned to Edmundston for its entire career and spent most of its time stored inside the roundhouse in ready condition. It was the last Atlantic Region fire car to be retired in 1986 and was one of the last of the former steam engine tenders on the CN system. This tender is presently part of our Fire Train display. It was repainted in 2001 to reflect the paint scheme of a tender that used to operate in Truro, N.S.