Steam locomotive 1246 returns home!

The 1246 has arrived!

In the last TrainMuseum blog post, details of the locomotive and its acquisition were revealed. Now it has arrived in Snoqualmie, returning to the Puget Sound region after an absence of more than 40 years!

The Great Northern Railway 1246 is popularly known as the Woodland Park Zoo steam locomotive.  Displayed near the south entry to the park from 1953 until 1980, this Baldwin built Consolidation locomotive thrilled thousands of children of all ages.

On Tuesday, April 25, the 1246 was bifurcated - the locomotive boiler was removed from the steam engine and drivers - and each was set on a heavy haul truck.

As heavy and robust as a locomotive may be, it must be handled with care or else critical components could be damaged.  The boiler was carefully rigged to prevent damage.

The 1246 is a freight locomotive and it is heavy - more than 130 tons when paired and operating with a tender.  Local crane company Imhoff recently sold to Campanoli Crane but the 1246 move allowed their large conventional crane to return to Snoqualmie for a few days.

Steven Butler from Morton Locomotive and Machine Works coordinated the move from Merrill, Ore to Snoqualmie, and the entire move went off without a hitch.

Please consider a contribution to the Northwest Railway Museum to help offset the more than $88,000 cost of repatriating this amazing artifact.

A Consolidation of efforts for the 1246

The 1246 has returning to Washington State and is making its new home at the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie.  Help defray the cost of bringing it home by making a contribution right now!

What is the 1246?  It is a steam locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1907 featuring a 2-8-0 wheel arrangement commonly known as a Consolidation.

People of a certain age who grew up in the Seattle area may fondly remember the Woodland Park Zoo steam locomotive that was on display at the south entrance.  Donated to the City of Seattle in June 1953 by the Great Northern Railway, the 1246 was placed on a plinth for children of all ages to enjoy.  Check out this promotional video from 1953:

In the late 1970s, the Woodland Park Zoo evolved into a wildlife conservation organization and soon it was apparent that an iron horse did not fit in their collection.  A plan was developed to move the locomotive to the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), but the more than $100,000 cost exceeding the available funding.

In 1980 the City of Seattle held a locomotive auction.  Collectors from across the region expressed interest - as did the Northwest Railway Museum - but the successful bid was submitted by Fred Kepner of Klamath Falls, Oregon who planned to build a railway museum.  Mr. Kepner moved the locomotive to the much drier climate of eastern Oregon where it has aged much better than in a coastal climate. Unfortunately, his plans to build a museum did not materialize.  

After his passing in 2021, the locomotive and several others were acquired by the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad in Tillamook, Oregon.  In the fall of 2022, the Northwest Railway Museum and the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad penned a deal to exchange locomotives.  The Northwest Railway Museum transferred the Union Pacific (Oregon Short Line) locomotive 529 (also a consolidation) to the Oregon Coast group and acquired ownership of the Great Northern 1246 in exchange.  

Locomotive 1246 moved to the Northwest Railway Museum in late April 2023; please consider a contribution to help defray the costs, which exceed $88,000.

Thank you to Mr. Martin Hansen of Bend, Oregon for the use of photos from his collection, and for his recollections on the history of the 1246.

Thank you to the leadership at the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad for seeing the merits in the exchange of artifacts that strengthens the collection of both institutions.