The Dwight D. Eisenhower

There's a new steam engine in the Maritimes... at least for now. British Railways A4 4-6-2 No. 60008, the Dwight D. Eisenhower, is moving from the American National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin to the British National Railway Museum in York. Here's a good article on the move.

The engine is moving for the 75th anniversary of the setting of the world speed record by a steam engine, set on July 3 1938. The record was set by another A4 class engine, the Mallard. I believe all the existing A4s are being collected together to commemorate the 75th anniversary. Can you imagine a steam engine going 126 MPH?

Here are a few sightings of the engine's transit to Halifax:
2012/08/11 - through Sarnia, ON on train CN 348.
2012/08/16 21:44 ET - departed St. Lambert, QC on train CN 400.
2012/08/17 20:35 AT - passed McGivney, NB on CN 308.
2012/08/17 night - arrived Moncton, NB on train CN 308.
2012/08/19 morning - arrived Halifax, NS on train CN 120.

Crazeejay2006 caught it on CN 348 in Sarnia. It's near the rear of the train, with the tender on a flatcar followed by the tarped steam engine.


David Othen shot this great video of the train arriving in Halifax, and shunting in the Rockingham yard.


There were supposed to be two steam engines heading over to England. I don't know if and when the other engine is coming, or whether the Dwight D. Eisenhower is going to wait in Halifax for the other engine.