CB&Q O-5B 4-8-4 #5629

[CANADIANPACIFIC2816]

A Burlington Route 05-B class 4-8-4, #5629, has been sitting on the grounds of the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden for a good many years. And I sometimes wonder if ANYONE out there has ever done a mechanical study of her to determine if #5629 could ever be restored to operating condition. The Burlington had condemned her before the Colorado Railroad Museum had acquired her in the early 1960's.

I dream of seeing #5629 restored to operating condition, but I just wonder if she is too-far gone for that to ever happen. Are there any other CB&Q fans out there who would share my dream and would be asking the same questions??

[Anonymous]

I saw that engine a couple of weeks ago on a trip down there. The engine did look pretty far gone. All of the moving parts look like they have been painted over about ten times, but I'm not sure what state the actual mechanics of the engine is in. I'm sure that with unlimited funds anything can run again, but it might be too high to make it worth while. But I would love to see it run again!

Also I might be able to get some pictures posted, I would just need to scan some slides that I took of it.

[mudchicken]

The engine just got into the museum grounds. It sat for years with another snowblower and steam engine on the opposite side of 44th on the Coors/BNSF property until could be moved. It slid more than it rolled during the moving process. The museum is justifyably spending its limited funds on other projects.

http://www.crrm.org/locomotives.htm It was retired in Mookietown the same year I was hatched.

[Mookie]

And my money is on my thinking that my dad probably hand-fired that particular engine more than once!

Let's see - 1956 to 2005 = Well, your feathers are a lot older than the Mookie, that is for sure!

[(-D]

[CopCarSS]

#5629 is one of those engines I would love to see run again, but probably never will. There were lots of bigger, more powerful, sleeker 4-8-4's out there, but the O5a/b's were just the quintessential steam locomotive to me. It's the locomotive I picture in my mind when I don't have a better description.

As the others have said, chances are really slim she'll ever run again. Probably about the same as me winning Powerball. Come to think of it, if I win Powerball, maybe I could finance her return to steam! It's always nice to dream a little, isn't it!

Chris
Denver, CO

[daveklepper]

What happened to 5632?

[Overmod]

Dave, you don't want to know. It's too sad.

[CopCarSS]

QUOTE: Originally posted by daveklepper

What happened to 5632?

May she rest in peace. [:(] Like Overmod said, it's pretty sad. I can spill the details, but its best you remember her in her excursion service, and while she was the world's biggest brass engine (remember the gold paint job? I don't...but I've seen pictures). Wish I could've known you 5632. [:(][sigh]

[Anonymous]

Dear Dave,
http://www.steamlocomotive.com/lists/recent-losses.shtml

May they rest in peace.

Sincerely,
Daniel Parks

[CANADIANPACIFIC2816]

What happened to #5632? She was sold for scrap over a dispute involving the cost of her storage. At least that is the word that I got several years ago. While I don't have tabs on what steamers from the Burlington, and Colorado & Southern were preserved, I know that a large number of them were sold for scrap, including virtually all of the Q's M-4 class 2-10-4's...........and that was a crime!!! I first got interested in the Burlington Route in 1982 when I purchased an HO scale CB&Q 2-10-4, #6315, imported by Nickel Plate Products, from a local hobby dealer. I still have it today and I still occasionally run it out on our club's layout in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Ray Loftesness II
CANDADIAN PACIFIC2816

[espeefoamer]

I saw this engine at the CRM in 1979.I took a picture of it as an example of a pre 1970 Burlington Northern[}:)]!

[Anonymous]

Guess I'm the lucky one. I remember standing in an open dutch door vestibule with stop watch in hand to measure the time between mile posts. It was one of the Burlington fantrips out of Chicago. She was cruising at 90 per! And for photo run bys she was the loudesat engine I ever heard. I'm a Milwaukee Road fan but the 5632 was a mighty impressive engine.
Gordon Smith

[nobullchitbids]

Speaking of old steam locos I have known, anyone know the fate of:

The Chessie Kanawha once parked near Cleveland's zoo?

The NKP S-2 once kept on a siding in Conneaut, Ohio?

The Reading T-1 at the time stored in what was left of Conneaut's roundhouse and shops?

[Anonymous]

I know in the 80's the BN was considering using 5629, the Pacific in Childress, or another Burlington engine for excursion duty. I looked at two of them. If I remember right, the 29 was the first choice, but was nixed by the Golden people. That stopped that.

[Anonymous]

I remember 5632 pulling fan-trips as well and might have seen 5629 on the Christmas mail & express trains, but was too young to remember engine numbers. Aside from major things like the boiler, If 5629 was vandalized while stored, replacing missing appliances and cab fittings can be a major headache. The Illinois Railway Museum has a Q 4-6-4, a 2-8-2, and a 4-6-0. Of the 3 the Hudson is probably in the worst shape.

[gbrewer]

Gordon,

Was that the 5632 at the end of the day when they doubled with 6315? The ride I remember sure was fast and in the dark. I was in another dutch door savoring the sounds.

[BurlingtonJohn]

IIRC, 5629 belongs to the NRHS chapter in Denver and is NOT owned by the CRRM.

I took pictures of the cab interior several years ago and everything is in good shape (just a little dusty). Everything is where it should be. The cab is kept locked and not opened to the general public.

That said, I can't speak for the condition of the boiler/firebox. I seem to remember somebody telling me that it was used as a stationary boiler at one time and as a result, the boiler/firebox is not in the best of shape. I could be (and probably am) wrong.

5629 is an oil burner, so if I ever win the lottery .....

Regards & Everywhere West,

Burlington John

PS - I have a CD of the 6315/5632 on a doubleheader excursion run to Galesburg. The sound is incredible .... the 6315 went lame and the 5632 ended up pushing the disabled engine the rest of the way, as well as pulling a considerable excursion consist!

[CANADIANPACIFIC2816]

Burlington John:

The Colorado Railroad Museum now owns #5629. The NRHS donated her to the museum last year. I read this in the November 2004 issue of the museum's Iron Horse News.

Ray Loftesness II
CANADIANPACIFIC2816

[BurlingtonJohn]

Thanks Ray, I didn't know that. You learn something new every day!

Regards,
Burlington John

[CopCarSS]

Since we're talking so much about her, I thought she deserved to have her picture shown to world, since she such a good-looking lady:







Chris
Denver, CO

[CANADIANPACIFIC2816]

Thanks for sharing your pictures with the rest of us, Chris. The last time I had seen her up close was in the summer of 1985. I have some black and white photos of her that I had purchased at a Burlington Route Historical Society meet in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1997. #5629 looks better in your pictures than she does in the black & white prints that I have. So even though she is not likely to ever run again, the Colorado Railroad Museum is at least keeping her looking sharp.

Ray Loftesness II
CANADAINAPACIFIC2816

[Anonymous]

The C&O 2707 by the zoo in Cleveland was moved in 1982 to the B&O
yards in the flats area of Cleveland where it sat for another 11 years
until1993. Then it was moved to the Illinos Railroad Museam.
The Nickel Plate locomotive I beleave you refer to is the 755. It now sits
outside the old New York Central depot in Conneaut with a hopper and, caboose that are all part of a museam in the depot.

[daveklepper]

Apparently, according to the add in TRAINS, the K4 that used to be at Horseshoe, is now the "Official State of Pennsylvania Locomotive." Does this mean she'll get or got some State tax money?

If so, maybe some New York State fans can boost the fate of the remaining Mowhawk, where she may be. It is too bad a J3A or even a J1 Hudson wasn;t saved somewhere, but there is a Mowhawk 4-8-2 somewhere I understand.

[CopCarSS]

QUOTE: Originally posted by daveklepper
If so, maybe some New York State fans can boost the fate of the remaining Mowhawk, where she may be. It is too bad a J3A or even a J1 Hudson wasn;t saved somewhere, but there is a Mowhawk 4-8-2 somewhere I understand.

I wanna see one of those Dreyfuss Art Deco Hudson Streamliners running at 100+!!!![sigh]

Chris
Denver, CO

[BNIRRLives]

It would be cool to see her run but it is also important keeping it from rusting away. I have never seen the engine in person, but the insulation and jacket should be removed, or move the engine inside under a roof some how.

BNIRRLives