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| The goal of Project 5473 is the continued restortation and mainline use of Kalispell Southern 2-6-2 #5473. This group of hard working professionals began as a non-profit group to restore a once proud locomotive to her former glory. Here is the story of this amazing achievement. The Early Years The future 5473 was outshopped by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1903. Designed for high speed freight service across the flat plains, the big Prairie type was outfitted as a logger and went to work for for the Polson Lumber Company on the shores of Lake Coeur d'Alene as PLC #7. It was during this time that Steve Thompson of Tinken Photo snapped the only known photo of the #7 in orgiinal service. In 1935 she was bought by the East Kootenai Lumber Company and shipped via rail and barge to the dense forests of British Columbia. In the shops of the EKLCo.she was converted to burn oil. For twenty years she toiled in the Canadian pines before her fires were finaly dropped in 1956, displaced by infernal combustion. She sat derelict until 1984, when James Maxwell, on one of his famous "Jaunts" came across her in the old EKLCo. yards. He fell in love with the engine and paid the scrap fee on the spot. He had her shipped, again via barge and rail to Whitefish, Montana, and donated her to the Pacific Norhtwest Railroad Museam,where heavy rebuild work began in the spring of 1985. Rebirth The #7 took her first moves under steam in the fall of 1991. She was put to work hauling the Kalispell Flyer excursion train between Whitefish and Kalispell. The Flyer was operated by the Friends of the PNWRRM, and was an all volunteer outfit. Members of the Friends operated the #7 and staffed the train. It was during this time the Praire was given her title as Princess of the Inland Northwest, the Queen being the recently rstored SP&S 4-8-4 Northern #700. Pulling six to eight oaches she was a prime attraction and showed her guests what a steam locomotive was cabable of, blasing across the landscape at a mile a minute and attacking the stiff grades into Kalispell with tenacity. She did this work faithfully until 2001 when leaky staybolts did not allow her to pass the mandated FRA inspection. It was decided to completely refurbish the locomotive, and bring her up to date for continued usage. Project 5473 The first order of buisness for the newly founded Friends of Seven to find a location to refurbish the locomotive. Ths was solved when the Kalispell Southern donated a small rail warehouse to the group in their yards at Whitefish. Once the engine was moved inside, the boiler rebuild was begun in earnest Several key items were added and removed to bring the 1923 giant into the 21st century. MU equipment was added for helper diesels, the boiler was hydrostactical tested and the opeating pressure raised. The spark arrestor was removed for better steaming and the tender was overhauled. At this juncture the KS again stepped into help, offering her a berth in the soon to be completed Steter Steam Shops in Athol, ID. She took her second first moves under steam at the Stetler Steam Shops on September 19th, 2005. And just in time. The Kalispell Southern annouced Steamfest 2005 and in the same annoucement, allowed for the #7 to be the official ambassador engine for the Kalispell Southern, with the road number of 5473. New Reign In order to get ready for Steamfest, the Project 5473 group has been working overtime to get the locomotive ready to go. Steamfest is envisioned as a way for steam locomotives from around the world to experience American moutain railroading and to allow those who have not yet experianced steam up close to do so. There are series of improvements to be made to the locomotive before she heads east. Ditch lights will be added for better vision both from the locomotive and to it. MU equipment will help control a trailing diesel unit if needed. An auxillary water tender, the "Neil Vodden", named for one of SP's legendary engineers brings the total water capacity of the locomotive to 9,000 gallons. State of the art communications gear allows the prairie type to keep in touch. And a digital read-out of all heat sensitve bearings keeps the crew informed about the health of the locomotive. She is truely an engine for the new century! |
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| Kalispell Southern #5473 Built: 1903 Baldwin Locomotive Works Wheel Arrangement: 2-6-2 (Prairie Type) Class: P-4 Service Designation: GS-1 (General Service First Class) Locomtive Weight: 180,000lbs Tender Weight: 84,000lbs Boiler Pressure: 200psi Driver Diameter: 55-Inches Tractive Effort: 32,145lbs Cylinders: 21x28-Inches Water: 5,000 US Gallons, Fuel: Bunker "C" Oil, 1,275 Gallons Rated Speed: 45mph, 50mph maximum Service: Passenger primary, freight secondary Status: Operational with the Kalispell Southern Railroad The P-4 was popular with it's crews for ease of firing and riding charecteristics. 28 of them were outshopped and went to various roads all over North America. Another class of engine, the C-7 2-8-0 Consolidation was released at teh same time and is virtualy identical in all aspects, save for more weight and tractive effort. Six of the P-4's and two of the C-7's remain today. |
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