Historic CN locomotive wheel finds new home in Fort Saskatchewan

FORT SASKATCHEWAN, Alta., June 22, 2009 – CN has donated a former steam locomotive wheel to the City of Fort Saskatchewan, symbolizing its shared history in the development of the region.

CN officially presented the chrome-plated artifact today in a ceremony outside the former 1905 railway station in Fort Saskatchewan.

Tracy Miller, Alberta General Manager for CN, said the wheel was displayed for about 45 years at the railway's downtown Edmonton office building. He said when CN relocated to new offices last year, the wheel needed to move – and found an appropriate home in Fort Saskatchewan.

“CN's predecessor Canadian Northern Railway built its mainline through Fort Saskatchewan in 1905, allowing the community to grow with new settlers and new business. The railway also helped sew the seeds of future industrial development in the area,” Miller said.

“Today, the Fort Saskatchewan region and its significant industrial customer base remains critical to our company and our plans for the future.”

The wheel, which was reconditioned by the City of Fort Saskatchewan and installed on a new base, was once part of CN “Mikado”-class steam locomotive No. 3805. Built by the Canadian Locomotive Company in 1936, No. 3805 and its five sisters were specially designed to operate using the hard, high-alkaline water common on the Prairies.

These locomotives were used across Western Canada until the late 1950s, when they were replaced by diesel-electrics. CN preserved and reconditioned one of the main driving wheels from No. 3805 as a monument to the steam era.

Fort Saskatchewan Mayor Jim Sheasgreen thanked CN for its generous donation, saying the wheel is an important historic addition to displays that include a former CN caboose and the CN station, which was designated as a heritage building by the Province of Alberta in 2008. The station is today used by the Fort Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce. 

“Today is a great day for Fort Saskatchewan and the Historical Society. We are so proud to be connected with this piece of Alberta's heritage and I think we have found the perfect home for the wheel here in our city,” stated Mayor Sheasgreen.

As an Imagine Caring Company, CN is committed to contributing one per cent of pre-tax profit to registered, non-profit organizations in communities where our employees work and where we operate our business. Through the CN Stronger Communities Fund, the company supports health and safety programs for young people, transportation education, the CN Railroaders in the Community employee volunteer grant program, and United Way.