Canadian National 3254

Canadian National 3254 was built in 1917 by the Canadian Locomotive Company for the Canadian Government Railways where it was numbered 2854.[1][2] In 1918, the Canadian Government Railways combined with the Canadian Northern Railway formed the Canadian National Railways. The engine had considerable pulling power, could climb grades with ease, and was used to handle very heavy freight trains.[2][3] The engine continued service until its last major class 3 overhaul was completed in Allendale, Ontario and was retired from revenue service in 1958.[2][3]

After being stored for three years, the locomotive was sold in November 1961 to motel owner Willis F. Barron who moved it to Ashland, Pennsylvania and intended to run the locomotive on the Reading Company's branchline that served the town.[2][3][1] The tracks in Ashland were ripped up before Barron's planned venture could begin operation, so he had the locomotive disassembled, moved via truck, and reassembled at his Ashland Court Motel to be used as a static display.[4] During the 1970s, Barron lost interest in restoring No. 3254 to operating condition, so it was sold to the Adirondack Railroad in Lake Placid, New York, but it was never delivered there.

In 1982, it was sold again to the Gettysburg Railroad, who disassembled it to be hauled by truck to Gettysburg. It was subsequently reassembled and restored to operating condition in 1983, and then it began pulling excursion trains between Gettysburg and Mount Holly Springs. It also participated in that year's National Railway Historical Society (NRHS) convention alongside Huntingdon and Broad Top Mountain Railroad and Coal Company 2-8-0 No. 38.[5] During its time at Gettysburg, however, the locomotive proved to be oversized and overpowered for the railroad's needs, so it only operated there for two years.[6]

Meanwhile, Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton needed a larger locomotive to meet the demand for greater motive power to pull their longer excursion trains. In the summer of 1987, No. 3254 arrived at Steamtown after they traded Canadian Pacific 1278 and $100,000 for the locomotive.[2][3] The locomotive was repainted as Delaware, Lackawanna and Western No. 1271, and it was put into service in late August 1987.[3][2] In 1995, the locomotive participated in the grand opening of Steamtown's main roundhouse alongside multiple other locomotives, including Canadian Pacific 2317, Baldwin 0-6-0 Baldwin Locomotive Works 26, Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad 425, Susquehanna SY 2-8-2 No. 142, and Milwaukee Road 261. Steamtown also owns Canadian National 3377, it became a spare parts provider for the locomotive, including the tender, which replaced the original tender in 2010 due to rust leaks.[7]

As a result of issues with either the boiler/firebox or the frame, combined with other needed maintenance which made further operation impractical, the locomotive made its last run on December 2, 2012, and was taken out of service after the holiday season, were it was previously awaiting its 1,472 day inspection and rebuild, however, SteamTown decided to officially retire it from excursion service indefinitely due to it poor condition.[2] The early retirement is likely attributed due to its bent frame of its 1941 collision, it has frequently been described as a "rough rider," and had been chewing up bearings at an accelerated rate. It also consumed a staggering amount of coal compared to the amount consumed by Canadian Pacific 2317.[2][8]

As of 2022, the engine still remains on static display, Steamtown does not have any plans on returning it to service anytime soon, due to its poor condition and bent frame.[9][2] Boston and Maine 3713 will be replacing the engine as Steamtown's main line excursion locomotive for now.[2][10]

On July 24, 1941, the engine collided head on with Great Northern 1351 at North Road cut near Burnaby, British Columbia.[8][11] The accident caused the engine's frame horns to be bent with the frame itself also being bowed to one side, causing the cab to sit off-centered. Despite being badly damaged with a bent frame after the accident, CN loosely repaired the locomotive and it continued service.[8][11]

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  No. 3254 inside the Steamtown roundhouse in 2008.
• 
  No. 3254 at Steamtown National Historic Site in June 2011.
• 
  No. 3254 with a excursion train at Steamtown.
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  No. 3254 hauling an excursion train in September 2011.
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  No. 3254 when it slowed to a stop in Moscow, Pennsylvania on Labor Day weekend, 2011.

• Grand Trunk Western 4070
• Nickel Plate Road 587
• Grand Canyon Railway 4960
• Southern Railway 4501
• Soo Line 1003