Over the winter, the volunteer shop crew at the Prairie Dog Central Railway carried out their normal maintenance routine, including hydrostatic testing and cleaning scale from the tender of locomotive 3, a 4-4-0 built by Dubs & Co. of Glasgow, Scotland, in 1882 for Canadian Pacific Railway. Notably, it is the oldest operating steam locomotive in Canada.

In addition to the routine mechanical work, the crew made several cosmetic changes to the locomotive. Most noticeable was the removal of the fake diamond stack and headlight installed for a 1970s movie shoot, replaced with the Pyle sealed-beam headlight the engine carried in service with Winnipeg Hydro. The yellow striping on the tender was also removed, along with several plaques that had been added to the cab over the years. The locomotive now more closely reflects its appearance in regular service, both with Winnipeg Hydro and earlier with Canadian Pacific. 

Prairie Dog Central operates excursions from Winnipeg to Grosse Isle and Warren, Man., from May through October. The excursion trains are powered by locomotive 3 or one of the railway’s preserved diesel locomotives. —Glenn Courtney