Ohio Central 1551 photo runby at Trinway, OH
Canadian National No. 1551 is a 4-6-0 "Ten Wheeler" type steam locomotive built by the Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW) in 1912 for the Canadian National Railway (CNR).
Originally numbered #1354, she primarily service on freight trains on the Canadian National till the mid-1950's.
In 1956 she was renumbered #1551, and in 1961 she would be moved to the original Steamtown museum in Bellows Falls, VT for Static display until 1967, when she, along with the rest of the museum's collection of steamers was moved to the facility's new home in Scranton, PA.
Repairs to #1551 were completed in 1988, concurrent with Jerry’s purchase of a 70-mile long, former Norfolk & Western (N&W) line between Harmon and Zanesville, which he renamed the Ohio Central Railroad.
Almost immediately daily-except Sunday steam tourist passenger trains began operating the seven-mile trek between Sugar Creek and Baltic with #1551 doing the honors then the locomotive was pulled from tourist train service so that an overhaul could begin, but before #1551 repairs had been completed Jerry decided to end the Sugarcreek steam train
Today, #1551 sits inside the Age of Steam Roundhouse in storage, patiently awaiting an opportunity for revival in the near future.
Trivia[]
- Wrapped in a blue tarp, the 4-6-0 sat outside in storage along with Jerry’s other dead locomotives at the Ohio Central's own Morgan Run Shop.
- All of the steamers, diesels, freight and passenger cars, and other rolling stock were moved to their new home during 2011.