C.P.R. Locomotives #2023 & #2024

Both of these steam locomotives were built in the 1940s to a standard United States Railway Administration design. Although neither engine was ever owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway they are both painted in the company’s pre-1915 livery. Their road numbers, 2023 and 2024, represent blanks in the C.P.R. numbering system of the time.

When ordered, both of these 0-6-0s were intended for U.S. Army service in the Far East. Locomotive #2023 was built in 1942 by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) of Schenectady, New York and #2024 was built in 1944 at the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio. Sold as war surplus to Pacific Coast Terminals in Vancouver in 1947, they then served for 18 years as yard engines on the wharves at New Westminister, British Columbia. In 1965 a private citizen bought the engines as they were being “scrapped” by P.C.T. He eventually resold them separately to Heritage Park.

Once a common sight, operating steam locomotives are now a rarity. Through its planned maintenance program, Heritage Park endeavors to ensure that sister engines #2023 & #2024 will see active service for generations to come.