No. 6213 moves into the roundhouse!

Former CN 4-8-4 Northern No. 6213 is one of the most significant artifacts at the Toronto Railway Museum. Since it arrived at the John Street Roundhouse from Exhibition Place in 2009, it has been one of the most visible and frequently photographed pieces of railway equipment in Roundhouse Park. Cab visits to the locomotive have been second in popularity only to the miniature train ride with museum visitors.

Despite having been displayed outdoors for the last six and a half years at the roundhouse—and at the CNE grounds for nearly a half-century before that—No. 6213 is remarkably good condition thanks to years of ongoing maintenance by dedicated volunteers. Time takes its toll, however, and this grand old steam locomotive was due for some much-needed time out of the elements for more extensive restoration work.

On Friday, January 15, No. 6213 came inside the roundhouse and into our restoration stall. All of the running gear is being removed, cleaned and replaced. The main rods connecting the driving wheels and cylinders have been off since it moved from the CNE and will finally be put back on. The carpentry crew is working on renewing and restoring wooden elements in the cab as well.

Posting by Andrew Jeanes; Images by Stephen Gardiner and Russ Milland

Click on each image for a closer look!