Static Display #4: GN 1147

Great Northern Railway 1147, 2-8-0 Class F8, Wenatchee, Washington, August 7, 1956. I was 14 when I took this photo. We were on a family vacation to eastern Washington to see the Rocky Reach Dam construction site. And of course, no trip over the mountains was complete until you made your way to “Tiny’s” fruit stand in Cashmere, for aplets and cotlets. Of course Richard “Tiny” Graves was the main attraction, a delightfully massive man in his signature white short-sleeved shirt, covered in – what else – apples! Now imortalized in a book written by his sister, "Tiny, King of the Roadside Vendors!"

This doughty Consolidation was presented to the City of Wenatchee in dedication ceremonies on June 2, 1956. It is still on display (at least as of 2006) at Wenatchee City Park.

It’s always a bit disappointing to have to contend with a chain link fence to admire a machine like this. Unfortunately it is the only way to keep the display from being “parted-out.” And as we saw in “Static Display #1” even being behind fencing does not always guarantee it’s safety.

There is a plaque that reads:

"This memorial to the "Iron Horse" of the era of steam-engine no. 1147 was given to the City of Wenatchee by The Great Northern Railway Company to serve as a symbol for generations to come of the tools which developed an empire.

Designed for service on steep grades, this consolidation type locomotive was built by Rogers Locomotive Works in 1902, the first of a series by that builder for The Great Northern. It is a G.N. class F-8 with a 2-8-0 wheel arrangement, and was one of the last steam engines on The Great Northern rails in the Pacific Northwest.

No. 1147 did its first duty between Leavenworth and the Columbia Basin soon after delivery. It was assigned to Wenatchee between 1916 and 1948 and hauled the longest train for its class over the Wenatchee-Oroville branch.

The 78 foot section of track on which it stands duplicates in every detail the standard Great Northern main line track of 115 pound steel, fully tie-plated, spiked and anchored on creosoted ties imbedded in 24 inch crushed rock ballast.

This engine and tender were moved to this site on May 21, 1956. No. 1147 and tender weigh nearly 129 tons. Engine and tender are 69 feet 8 1/2 inches long. Height from rail to top of stack is 15 feet 4 inches. Originally a coal burner it was converted to oil in 1913."

Great Northern 1147, Consolidation, 2-8-0, built Rogers Locomotive Works, 1902.