Great Northern Class C-1 0-8-0 Switcher #828 - Part I

1949 Minneapolis, MN

The Great Northern operated a number of switching steam locomotives over the years. None were more prominent or lasted longer than the Class C-1 0-8-0 steam locomotives that operated throughout the GN system from WWI to the end of steam. 

The Great Northern updated much of it's steam power in the 1900's and 1910's and buying new switchers was part of that. The GN preferred its custom steamers and the C-1's were ordered in 1918 from Baldwin, just ahead of the US Railroad Administration taking over locomotive orders. "They had the common (at least for the GN) 55-inch drivers and 26-inch by 28-inch cylinders. They were equipped with Walschaert valve gear and piston valves. As delivered, they operated at a boiler pressure of 200 psi (design pressure was 210 psi) with a total weight of 232,600 pounds (all on the drivers, of course) and a tractive effort of 58,500 pounds." (Middleton & Priebe, 2010)

#828 served on the Willmar Division through 1955. Almost the entire class of locomotives lasted until December 1957 when the first were sent off to be scrapped. They outlasted most of their counterparts for the simple fact that they were in good shape and were near their fuel and service locations at all times in yard service.

Most photos place it in service at Minneapolis but this is close enough for me. While never a road locomotive, the limited space I have to model in requires a small GN locomotive to conduct switching moves with, so concessions have to be made. In the future, I hope to get some larger GN steam models.

1951 Minneapolis, MN

I have a mint, DC, Tenshodo Great Northern C-1 0-8-0, circa 1960. After lubricating it and adding a Kadee coupler on the tender, it runs fairly decent for sitting in a box for over 50 years. The motor runs fine but sounds a bit like a coffee grinder. What I hope to do with the locomotive is a full DCC conversion and repower. I will do this in two phases.

Phase I:
I hope to install a new LED headlight to replace the jewel headlight on the smokebox. I hope to do the same with the tender light. I will also replace the motor and drive shaft joint with parts from Northwest Short Line. Last, I will run a connector cable to the tender which will house the new decoder, the ESU LokPilot Standard that I picked up for cheap. If I fry it in the install process, it will be a lot better than losing an expensive sound decoder.

Phase II:
If everything works out in Phase I and I am able to run it flawlessly on DCC, I will look to add a sound decoder.

If I can get through all of that, I will weather the model and add detail down the road when my skills are better. All of these tasks will certainly be challenging and at the very least it will be a learning experience.


References:

Middleton, K. R., & Priebe, N. F. (2010). Steam locomotives of the Great Northern Railway. Stevens Point, WI: Great Northern Railway Historical Society.