Steam Locomotive

As the last revision of the Canadian National's 4-8-2 'Mountain' type locomotive in 1944, twenty units of the 'U1f' class from the Montreal Locomotive Works in Quebec were a far cry mechanically and cosmetically appearing than sporting familiar dimensions compared to fifty-eight prior locomotives.

Saddled on eight 73 inch box pox drivers including a single piece cast steel frame so equipped, the U1f's weighed about 324 tons when loaded, operating at a boiler pressure of 260 psi, produced 52,313 Ibs of tractive effort, and they also trailed their Vanderbilt style tenders which carried 5,000 gallons of oil and 11,000 gallons of water.

These spanking-new iron horses were painted in a olive green streamlined skirting with gold pin striping and the most notable feature they sported was a blunted cap covering the smokebox.

It not only resembles the head of a bullet, it also inspired a nickname for the locomotives: "Bullet-Nose Betty".

Eventually though some of the U1f's had their bullet noses removed.

Originally built for the assignments on passenger service, their 73 inch drivers gave the locomotives the suitable ability for hauling fast-freight without a effort.

By 1960 when the steam era ended, only three out of twenty 'U1f's remained in preservation.

Number 6069 resides at the Sarnia Centennial Park on display in Sarnia, Ontario while Number 6077 also resides in static condition at the Northern Ontario Railroad Museum in

Capriol, Ontario which leaves the only operable sister engine in Canada in particular.

Number 6060 reached her limitations of service by 1959, awaiting her fate by the scrapper's torch in storage until Canadian National engineer by the name of Harry R.J. Home bought

the U1f for just one dollar before donating the engine to Jasper, Alberta where she sat on display by 1962.

It wasn't until a decade later when the CN reacquired the 6060 for excursion service replacing the 'U2g' class 4-8-4 number 6218.

After seven years of successful operation, the engine once again reached her limitations, but that was only briefly before she was reactivated again by 1986.

Thanks to the efforts of Harry Home and the Rocky Mountain Rail Society in that time, the restoration on the 6060 coincided with Steam Expo in Vancouver, British Columbia at the Expo '86 event.

She only missed the parade part but it didn't stop her from moving under her own power to Vancouver for the event, arriving just days before the conclusion of Expo '86.

For the next three years, the 6060 maintained her position within Vancouver until 1988, always double-heading with Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 Royal Hudson number 2860 and 2-8-0 Consolidation number 3716.

In 1998 when she was moved to Alberta Prairie Railway in Stettler, Alberta away from her Alberta Railway Museum in storage, 6060 continued to operate for tourist attraction until 2011.

As of today as we speak however, the only operable 'U1f' class 4-8-2 is currently undergoing a full restoration effort to have placed into operating condition again.

Although Harry R.J. Home died on March 30th, 2020, the restoration project presses on, even without the efforts of the very former Canadian National engineer, he'll always be around in the memories of those who remembered him.