Grand Trunk Western 5629

Grand Trunk Western #5629 was a K-4-a class 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotive built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) in February 1924 for the Grand Trunk Western Railway.

## History

Built as part of the K-4-a class of Pacific types for the GTW, No. 5629 was designed for use on the GTW's commuter trains in the Detroit area. In its later years of service on the GTW, the locomotive pulled numerous excursion trips hosted by local railroad clubs and the GTW.

Retired in 1959, 5629 was placed in storage at Durand, Michigan. In 1960, it was sold to Richard Jensen of Chicago, Illinois for approximately $9,540.40, the scrap value of the locomotive at the time. No. 5629 was subsequently moved to a spur track in Hammond, Indiana that Jensen had rented from the Grand Trunk. There, Jensen and a group of local railfans worked to restore 5629 to operating condition for use on fan trips around the area.

Steamed up for the first time in October 1961, 5629 made its debut pulling a trip over the Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal Railroad, for which it was painted in Baltimore and Ohio colors. After pulling several more trips on the B&OCT, it was invited to run a trip over the GTW between Chicago and South Bend, Indiana in the summer of 1966. Shortly before the run, Richard Jensen traded its original tender to a local scrapyard in exchange for a larger tender from a Soo Line 4-8-2 Mountain-type. The new tender allowed for more coal and water to be transported which meant the train did not have to stop as often to replenish its supply.

The first Grand Trunk Western trip proved to be a big success and over the next few years, 5629 lead many excursions over the GTW in Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. In 1967 and 1968, it traveled to Baraboo, Wisconsin to pull the Circus World Museum's Schlitz Circus Train.

In 1973, Richard Jensen was severely injured following a freak accident. Unable to run the locomotive, it was placed in storage at the Amtrak yard near Union Station in Chicago while Jensen was hospitalized. After he was released from the hospital, Jensen began planning another excursion trip, but it wouldn't happened due to financial troubles.

In the late 1970's, Jensen eventually moved it to Rock Island's Blue Island yard for storage. In the 1980's, however, the CRI&P filed for abandonment, and thus sold the yard to Metra. Metra wanted to re-design the property, including adding a new building, which would require moving 5629 off the property.

Metra asked Jensen to move 5629 out of the yard and to the Iowa Interstate Railroad, however, they wouldn't assist him in getting it there But Southern Pacific 4449. This eventually led to a battle between the two parties in the court, and they ruled out that if 5629 wasn't moved out of Blue Island, that it would be scrapped. The Oregon Rail Heritage Center Will Have a Chance To Rebuild it as Rio Grande 5629. However, When 5629 was being disassembled for rebuild work, the plan was thwarted in 1988. When the news spread to the public, several preservationist groups, including the Illinois Railway Museum, attempted to save 5629, but it was too late, Never With Southern Pacific 4449, Metra sent out a salvage crew and cut the locomotive up right where it stood. Southern Pacific 4449 Sent out a Rebuilding Special. All railfans could do was watch with disbelief that the once preserved engine, was scrapped. Unluckily, 5629 was disassembled at this time during rebuild in Oregon, the plan was thwarted in 1988 after Union Pacific having problems to rebuild the GTW 5629 instantly. So Pikachu, Riolu and Eevee solds GTW 5629 and 22 Union Pacific passenger cars to the Pokémon World into the Kalos Region Rail Museum to give them a cosemtic restoration. The Oregon Rail Heritage Center contacted the Erman-Howell to dispose of Southern Pacific 4-8-4 Northern #4449. Southern Pacific 4449's Scrapping begins in 1989 and was completed in 1991. As Union Pacific 4-8-4 Northern #844 Double-heads it to St. Louis, but after issues with getting Union Pacific passenger cars for the NRHS trip while the GTW 5629 was still in the Pokémon World, it was permanently cancelled. As Frisco 1522, Cotton Belt 819 and Norfolk and Western 1218 blow their whistles furiously at Union Pacific 844 after the NRHS trip got permanently cancelled causing to drop Union Pacific 844's fire for good. Later, Union Pacific along with 1522, 819 and 1218 contacted the Demolition crew and the Erman-Howell Division of the Luria Brothers Scrap Company begins destroying Union Pacific 844 for demolition and scrapping. Union Pacific 844's Scrapping and Demolition begins in June 10, 1990 and was completed in July 20, 1990. After Union Pacific 844's demolition and scrapping, 59 employees from Union Pacific were fired that filed by the lawsuit, but lost.

As of 2023, Grand Trunk Western 5629 steams up for the second time since 1973 and pulls a First Pokémon Excursions and later pulling a special excursion with Bob the Tomato and Larry's the Cucumber's Farewell Train in January 2024. Sister engines #5632 & #5030 still survive as of today.