We have adopted the Grand Trunk Western steam engine #8327
which is on display at Bandana Square in Saint Paul. This 0-8-0 switching
locomotive was looking pretty sad 10 years ago, and through the help of many
donations of time and money from Northstar Chapter members and other
organizations, the locomotive is looking
better than it has in many years. This is an ongoing project of ours, and we
welcome your assistance in any form to keep this locomotive looking good. Below
is a short history and more information about the locomotive.
Locomotive 8327 was built by the Lima Locomotive Works of Lima, Ohio in 1927. It was used by the Grand trunk Western for switching work in rail yards in Michigan and Illinois until it was replaced by diesel locomotives. It and many if its sisters were purchased by Northwestern Steel and Wire of Sterling, Illinois around 1960 for use switching freight cars at their steel mill. These locomotives were the last steam powered switchers used at Northwestern Steel and Wire. On December 3, 1980 the last fire was dropped in the steam engines at Northwestern Steel and Wire. Bandana Square purchased 8327 from Illinois Railway Museum in 1983, and transported it to Saint Paul. 8327 is a 0-8-0 heavy switcher. All of the weight on a 0-8-0 is on the driving wheels, which results in better pulling and braking power as compared to other locomotive designs. 8327 is typical of the 2800 eight wheel steam switchers built in the United States. One hundred seventy-five of them were built between 1918 and 1920 for 21 different railroads including the Northern Pacific, the railroad that operated the Como Shops; today the site is the Bandana Square office complex. The “Clear Vision Tender” was designed so the locomotive engineer and fireman could see the switchman when he was behind the locomotive. They did not have radios in those days.
The Railroads were largely responsible for the great expansion and growth of the United States during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. During that expansion trains were powered by steam locomotives. Until the expansion of commercial aviation after World War II most passenger travel occurred on scheduled passenger trains. During 1944 there were 97,705,000 passenger train miles, an all time high. Also during that time, most freight was shipped by rail. During 1916 there were approximately 254,000 route miles of railroads in the United States. From 1831 to 1950 a total of 175,000 steam locomotives were built, averaging 1,470 steam locomotives per year.
This locomotive is in the process of a cosmetic restoration by the Northstar Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. The NRHS is a nonprofit organization for historical and educational purposes. The Northstar Chapter, Bandana Square, National Railway Historical Society and IBM Corporation and others have contributed money to finance this restoration.