The Dunrobin

After the excitement of the steam engine in March, another steam engine was sighted on Canadian rails! This one headed east to Halifax, then onto a ship to return to its home country, England. That engine was the Dunrobin.

The "Dunrobin" is an 0-4-4 tank engine, built in Glasgow by Sharp Stewart in 1895. It spent many years in British Columbia at the Fort Steele Heritage Town, but has been sold to the Beamish Museum. The Beamish has an article about the purchase. A two-axle coach, the 2nd Duke of Sutherland's coach, was also sold.

The Dunrobin was loaded onto a truck on April 16 and taken to Calgary to be loaded on a flatcar. Jeff Keddy shot it as it passed through Winnipeg on April 22.


The shape of the steam engine is obvious. The other object under tarp on the flatcar is a two axle coach, also purchased for the Beamish Museum.


The Dunrobin was spotted on a CN freight in Ontario on the afternoon of April 28, and later in the evening at Dorval in Quebec.

David Othen reported that the Dunrobin and coach arrived in Halifax on CN 120 at about 9:50 AM on May 1. Here is David's video.

You can see the Dunrobin at 0:25 and also at about 4:30 in the video.

The Dunrobin was loaded onto a ship around May 8 and set sail for England. I hope they enjoy it at its new home!

There are many links available:

• http://www.spenbrook.co.uk/dunrobin.html
• http://www.heritagerailway.co.uk/news/dunrobin-purchased-by-beamish-museum
• http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2084036
• http://beamishtransport.blogspot.com/2011/04/dunrobin-leaves-fort-steele.html
• http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2084036