Canadian National Railways 6213, Steam locomotive at John Street Roundhouse, Canada
Canadian National Railways 6213 is a U-2 class 4-8-4 Northern type steam tender locomotive built by Montreal Locomotive Works in 1942 and now on display in Toronto, Canada. It has a large smokebox at the front, a long boiler, and a separate tender car attached at the rear to carry water and fuel.
Built in 1942, this locomotive ran on Canadian National Railways routes linking Halifax and Saskatoon, hauling both passengers and freight. It was retired from service in 1959 and handed over to the city of Toronto the following year.
The 6213 belongs to the U-2 class, a series built to handle long hauls across Canada, and seeing it up close gives a sense of how large passenger trains once were. The locomotive is cared for by volunteers who work to keep it looking as it did when it was in service.
This locomotive is on display at the Toronto Railway Museum, near the John Street Roundhouse, where visitors can walk around it and view it from multiple angles. The site is open seasonally, so it is worth checking ahead before planning a visit.
The 6213 is one of very few surviving U-2 class locomotives, as most were scrapped after diesel engines replaced steam on Canadian railways. Its survival is largely due to Toronto's early decision to preserve it as a public display piece rather than returning it to the railway.
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