Chicago Burlington and Quincy O-5 was a class of 36 4-8-4 "Northern" type steam locomotives built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1930 and the CB&Q between 1936 and 1940 and operated by the CB&Q until the late 1950s.
The locomotives saw service pulling both freight and passenger trains and four have been preserved, all of which are on display.
History[]
With an increase of traffic on the CB&Q, the railroad needed more powerful locomotives to pull the heavier loads and increased number of cars hauled. In 1930, the railroad ordered 8 4-8-4 locomotives and classified them as O-5. The CB&Q was satisfied with the locomotives and lead the railroad to build an additional 28 4-8-4 locomotives classed as O-5A in its own West Burlington, Iowa. Of the first eight O-5s, the first had fireboxes burning lignite coal while the last two took bituminous coal. No. 5607 had a booster that added 13,200 lbs (5,987 kg) tractive effort. One of the locomotives was reported pulling an 82 car mail train on October 17, 1944. Nos. 5600, 5602, 5604, 5605 and 5606 were fitted with Security circulators and reclassified O-5A. Between 1936 and 1940, the CB&Q built their own versions of the O-5 following the success of the class and were classified as O-5A. Nos. 5609, 5618, 5619, 5620 were fitted with Security circulators and 5610 received thermic syphons. The last 15 O-5s (nos. 5621-5635) were fitted with lightweight rods, all-weather vestibule cabs and a solid pilot. Nos. 5614, 5620, 5626, 5627, 5629, and 5632 were converted to burn oil later in their service lives and were reclassified as O-5B.
5632 with 2-8-2 Mikado 4960 at the Clyde Roundhouse. Seven years before the O-5b would meet her fate.
Between the mid and late 1950s, all of the O-5s have been retired from revenue service. After being retired from revenue service, No. 5632 was brought out of retirement and was used to haul excursions for the CB&Q steam program until November 1, 1964 when it hauled its last CB&Q excursion and was due for an overhaul. However, by 1966 the railroad got a new president, Louis W. Menk, who ended the program and the repairs on 5632 were halted. The locomotive was sold to caretaker, Richard Jensen, who moved it to the Chicago and Western IndianaRoundhouse for storage. In 1969, the locomotive was moved to a scrapyard, where the locomotive derailed on a switch and it was subsequently scrapped.
Preservation[]
Four of the Burlington Route's "Northerns" have been preserved, all of which are of the O-5A/B batch.
5614 is on display at Patee Park in St. Joseph, Missouri.
5629 is on display at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, Colorado.
5631 is on display at a depot in Sheridan, Wyoming.
5633 is on display at the Douglass Railroad Interpretive Center in Douglas, Wyoming.
No. 5631 in Sheridan, Wyoming
CB&Q 5632 in the good old days of steam
5632 double-heading with Grand Canyon Railway No. 4960
CB&Q No. 5632 pulling a passenger train
A drawing to plan building the CB&Q O-5A