By Eric Berger

Canadian National 7260 has emerged from three decades in storage to become a new display at the Middleton Railway Museum in Nova Scotia. Built in 1906, the 0-6-0 is the oldest surviving locomotive built by the Canadian Locomotive Company. The engine arrived at the museum in mid-February, rejoining its tender for the first time since they were stored separately in the 1990s by the Museum of Industry in Stellarton.

Museum of Industry Manager Craig MacDonald told Railfan & Railroad the decision was made to donate the engine and tender while evaluating what to do with various pieces stored in a deteriorating warehouse. “We were happy to give the engine to Middleton, where people will be able to enjoy it,” he said. Various other artifacts were also donated, including a turntable.

“Every piece of railway memorabilia helps tell the amazing story of the rich railway history in the Annapolis Valley,” said Middleton Railway Museum chairperson Dianne Hankinson LeGard in the press release. “CNR 7260 is a big and majestic piece of that history.”

The engine was built for the Intercolonial Railway of Canada, which linked the Maritime Provinces to Montreal, and spent most of its career in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. Though the roof of its cab was cut off for movement, it will be fully restored at its new home, MacDonald said.

At Middleton, the 7260 joins CNR 1274, a 1905 Montreal-built 4-6-0 which was donated to the museum by the County of Annapolis, following the closure of the Upper Clements park where it was displayed in 2020, arriving in January, 2021. That engine is Canada’s fourth eldest steam engine and is equipped with the Belpaire firebox design most commonly associated with Pennsylvania Railroad steamers.

Plans call for the two locomotives to be displayed side by side, so their similarities and differences can be easily discerned.