Loco 5080 is prepared for loading at the P.A. Exhibition grounds. (Glenn Hicks/paNOW Staff) 

By Glenn Hicks

transportation history

P.A.steam engine up and running to Alberta

Mar 19, 2019 | 5:00 PM

Prince Albert’s steam Locomotive 5080 has chugged – or rather been carried – on its way to the next chapter in an already long life. The 104-year-old machine is now on the road, headed to Alberta.

Crews spent several hours Tuesday at the train’s Prince Albert Exhibition site, going through the painstaking process of lifting the 112-ton chunk of steel onto a huge 92-wheeler flatbed truck.

We’re going to look after the old lady for you guys _{– Jason Thornhill, new owner}

New owner Jason Thornhill, who runs the Aspen Crossing train theme park, which will become the locomotive’s new permanent home, watched over the meticulously planned lift operation. Two huge cranes were used to swing the steam engine onto the mega truck.

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Thornhill has long been interested in adding the train to his collection.

Loco 5080 set to be trucked out of P.A. Exhibition Park. (Garth Kalin/JPBG Staff)

“When we heard it was being somewhat neglected here and becoming a liability for the city we thought here’s an opportunity to save a piece of history,” Thornhill told paNOW. “We’re going to look after the old lady for you guys; it’ll have a great new home.”

The steam engine will undergo a $1 million restoration and will be put back on the track. The city of Prince Albert will receive tourism marketing exposure at Aspen Crossing in return.

Train trio: Left to right, Arne Lindberg, Jason Thornhill and Al Broadfoot with the steam engine’s number plate. (Garth Kalin/JPBG Staff)

“It has taken us seven years to get to where we are today,” Arne Lindberg with the local restoration committee said, as he watched the operation. Lindberg met Thornhill and train restoration expert Al Broadfoot back in 2011. “It’s very emotional to see our old engine going to Alberta realizing that it’s going to be running again.”

–

glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow