It’s not been in the news much lately (Covid stuff I suspose).

Yes!

Thank you so much and on review see that the wording needed some serious clarification. We thought one thing and wrote down another – sigh – if you see my brain, send it home. It should have read when in service it’s the largest (in terms of size) operational steamer in the country, but by the time it was typed, the context was messed up. We’ve since updated the post to make it a little more clear.

Still, what you shared was an enjoyable read and we appreciate you taking the time.

Different engines for different tasks, 6060 could do 90 mph with a good size passenger train while the 4300s were designed for slower speed heavy freight work, and by 35-40 mph their rods were a blur and the exhaust one continuous roar with no discernible chuffing (as told to me by another volunteer who used to fire them).

As preserved engines go 6060 is indeed one of the most famous, but is again beaten in weight and power by a number of other Canadian engines. Even CP’s last class of Royal Hudsons weigh more, the difference being explained by CP’s better track allowing higher axle loadings.

The largest and most powerful steam locomotives in Canada, and indeed in the whole British Empire were CN’s T-2-a Santa Fe’s (one, 4100, is preserved at the Canadian Railway Museum) and CP’s Selkirks. There is some debate about which one deserves the crown as “largest”, as the CN 4100s produced more tractive effort but were strictly low speed engines (being designed for transfer and helper service on the grades around Toronto), while the Selkirks weighed around 40,000 lbs more and were far more versatile.

The CNRHA site has a number of scanned steam data sheets, here’s the one for 6060’s class:

http://www.cnrha.ca/node/704/

It’s nice to see you are following 6060’s story, we all look forward to the day when she will operate again.