| Long before an EMD SD40 unit carried the number 5909, this 2-10-4 Selkirk type steam locomotive had the distinct honor of wearing it for the Canadian Pacific. Built by the Montreal Locomotive Works in July of 1929 (serial #67930, class T-1a) that CP called "Selkirks" instead of traditional Texas monicker, were excellent performers in the rugged Canadian Rockies. To cut down on fuel, they were built as oil burners since a coal burner would have needed increased tender size and thus increased the weight to nearly 400 tons to go the distance that a lighter oil burner could do. Addison Lake photo |