St. Jacobs Ontario - In a significant milestone for the community, railway enthusiasts and history preservationists, Waterloo Central Railway (WCR) and Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society (SOLRS) proudly announces the acquisition of the ex-Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) steam locomotive number 1238!
 

Canadian Pacific Railway 4-6-2 Pacific class G5 number 1238 was owned by Jack Showalter and operated on the Virginia Central and the Allegheny Central/Western Maryland Scenic railroads before 1990 then was stored at the Shenandoah Valley Railroad. CP 1238 and CP 1286 were purchased by an unknown person or organization, rumoured to be from Alberta, and were stored at the Prairie Dog Central Railway in Winnipeg. 1238 awaits a return to Canadian Pacific livery - Sep 2015 Jeff Keddy *1.

This achievement will position WCR as the home to the second largest operating steam locomotive in all of Canada and will allow WCR to offer even more unparalleled experiences for the community and tourism alike, further providing the region with a landmark destination.
 
Waterloo Central Railway is owned and operated by SOLRS, a not-for-profit, registered charitable organization.
 
Once 1238 is operational, along with WCRX 9 (WCR's current steam locomotive in restoration), it will be one of the very few heritage railways in Canada with two fully operational steam locomotives.
 
Built in Montreal in 1946, 1238 is set to steam back to life on Canadian soil, becoming a cornerstone of WCR's mission of bringing history to life.
 
Bob Fallowfield, General Manager of WCR, expressed excitement about the acquisition, stating, "We're thrilled to keep this unique piece of Canadian railway history on Canadian soil and bring it back to life here."
 
Having spent over 50 years in the United States, 1238 returned to Canada in 2015 under the ownership and operation of the Vintage Locomotive Society (VLS), the organization behind Prairie Dog Central Railway.
 
The locomotive has been diligently maintained by past owners and is currently in very good shape but does require some restoration work to be fully operational for all to enjoy.
 
WCR successfully raised $150,000 by the 29 Dec 2023 deadline, showcasing tremendous support from the community.
 
David Banks, President of SOLRS, emphasized the ongoing need for community support, stating, "Our journey is not over, this historic locomotive is in great condition, however additional donations are crucial to complete the work required to bring it back into operation. Your continued support will help us steam ahead to complete restoration."
 
Bob Fallowfield, in reflecting on the collaborative effort with VLS, expressed gratitude to the community, stating, "It has been an incredible journey collaborating with VLS to preserve history, and the support from our local community has been nothing short of inspiring."
 
WCR's goal is to continue educating future generations on Canada's unique railway history, shaping a more informed and enlightened future through the threads of our past.
 
About Waterloo Central Railway
 
Waterloo Central Railway is a heritage railway offering historic passenger train rides on the Waterloo Spur between Northfield Drive in Waterloo, the St. Jacobs Farmers' Market, the village of St. Jacobs, and the town of Elmira.
 
They are proudly operated by the Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society (SOLRS), a not-for-profit, registered charitable organization.
 
All ticket proceeds go to supporting operations and restoration programs that volunteers complete at the Restoration and Maintenance Facility in St. Jacobs.
 
Follow them on Facebook (Waterloo Central Railway), Instagram @WaterlooCentralRailway and X @WCRailway, or visit waterloocentral.ca.
 
Bob Fallowfield.