This Northern type Locomotive, No. 2584, a survivor. The last steam engines aquired by the Great Northern Railway for main-line Passenger service. This example was placed on permanent exhibition in Havre Montana on May 15, 1964.
A powerful and speedy locomotive this engine now looks every bit the aristocrat that it was during the years of its pre-eminent association with the Empire Builder and the Oriental Limited. The Empire Builder was inaugurated in June 1929 and was pulled by a mountain-type locomotive. But popularity of the train led to addition of cars to the consist, and this necessitated more powerful engines.
In 1930 Great Northern acquired 14 Class 4-8-4 S-2 "Northern" steam locomotives from Baldwin Locomotive Works for service on the Empire Builder and the fast mail trains.
This engine No. 2584 is the last of the 14 engines. Samuel Vauclain, president of Baldwin described the Class S-2 engines as ?The finest, most powerful steam passenger locomotives ever built up to this time.? These engines were operated in freight service after the Empire Builder was streamlined and diesel powered in 1947, and were retired in 1955.
Locomotive and tender are 103 feet, 3 inches long, weight 764,680 pounds, and height from rail to top of stack is 16 feet. No. 2584 was an oil burner and developed 58,305 pounds of tractive effort. Each of the 8 wheel drive wheels is 80 inches high.
The track of which No. 2584 stands is laind to the Great Northern Main Line specifications. The creosoted ties are supported on a ballast consisting of 6 inches of crushed pink quartzite rocl. Both of which are quarried by the Great Northern in Montana. Welded rails fully tie platted and anchored weight is 115 pounds to the yard.
Located in north central Montana, Havre lies midway between Seattle and Minneapolis-St. Paul. Havre is a re-fueling, service stop and station for the Amtrak Empire Builder.
(submitted by Tedd Liggett -tl9ok@aol.com on 01/17/09)