Throwback Thursday - The Engine With a Split Personality

CNR 5700/5703, seen on June 11, 1989, had just become a part of the Elgin County Railway Museum collection during the year prior to the exposure of this image.  The expansive structure in the background is the former CASO station and divisional office in St. Thomas, Ontario.

By Peter Mumby.

CN rostered a small group of Hudson steam locomotives (5700-5704) in its K-5 class.  All were constructed by MLW in the fall of 1930.  Today's photo features an engine which was "a" 5700 without being "the" 5700.

At the end of the steam era, CN had decided to preserve class locomotive 5700, but dismantling was initiated in error.  5703 was retained instead, but was renumbered as 5700 to cover up this mistake.  It became a part of the CNR Historical Collection prior to going to the National Museum of Science and Technology in Ottawa.  In the late 1980s it joined the collection of the Elgin County Railway Museum in St. Thomas, Ontario, where it can be seen to this day.

If you have an interest in CNR steam locomotives, the definitive reference is Don McQueen's eight volume "Canadian National Steam! - A Locomotive History of The People's Railway."  This series is chock full of photos and data of all CNR and CN family steam power.