White Pass and Yukon Route 70

White Pass and Yukon Route 70
No. 70 at the Dollywood Express station, August 12, 2007
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderBaldwin Locomotive Works
Serial number62234
Model12 28¼ E
Build dateMay 1938
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-8-2
 • UIC1′D1′ h2
Gauge3 ft (914 mm)
Driver dia.44 in (1.118 m)
Wheelbase55 ft 8+1⁄2 in (16.98 m)
Height12 ft 7 in (3.84 m)
Adhesive weight108,000 lb (49.0 t)
Loco weight235,000 lb (106.6 t)
Total weight43.25 lb (0.0 t)
Fuel type
Fuel capacity
  • Coal: 8 t (7.9 long tons; 8.8 short tons)
  • Oil: 2,500 US gal (9,500 L; 2,100 imp gal)
Water cap.4,000 US gal (15,000 L; 3,300 imp gal)
Firebox:​
 • Grate area36 sq ft (3.3 m2)
Boiler64 in (1.63 m) diameter
Boiler pressure205 psi (1.41 MPa)
Heating surface:​
 • Firebox114 sq ft (10.6 m2)
 • Tubes993 sq ft (92.3 m2)
 • Flues555 sq ft (51.6 m2)
 • Total surface1,676 sq ft (155.7 m2)
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size17 in × 22 in (432 mm × 559 mm)
Valve gearWalschaerts
Valve typePiston valves
Loco brakeAir
Train brakesAir
CouplersKnuckle
Performance figures
Tractive effort25,179 lbf (112.0 kN)
Factor of adh.4.24
Career
Operators
Class12-28 ¼ E
Number in class1st of 4
Numbers
  • WPY 70
  • USATC 70
  • DE 70
NicknamesCinderella
RetiredApril 1963
Restored1987
Current ownerHerschend Enterprises
DispositionOperational
References:[1][2]

White Pass and Yukon Route 70 is a narrow-gauge 2-8-2 "Mikado" type steam locomotive, built in 1938 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW). It is preserved and operated by the Dollywood Express (DE) at the Dollywood amusement theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

History

No. 70 was built in May 1938 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW) for the White Pass and Yukon Route (WPY).[a] It was the first of the four 70-class locomotives that were constructed for the WPY between 1938 and 1947.[b]

The engine worked hauling both freight and passenger trains until it was later assigned and leased to the United States Army Transportation Corps (USATC) to haul materials for the ALCAN highway and transport soldiers during World War II.[3][1][2][5][6][10] It was originally built as a coal burner, but was later converted to burn oil in the 1950s.[11]

The locomotive returned to the WPY after the war ended and it continued to haul freight and passenger trains until it was retired from revenue service in April 1963; the locomotive would be left on a sidetrack at the Skagway railyard for the next fourteen years.[3][1][12][13][6][9]

In 1977, the WPY decided to sell No. 70 along with No. 71 and both units, along with some spare parts from No. 72, were sold to Silver Dollar City Tennessee (now Dollywood), a theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.[3][2][12][14][15] It received a cosmetic restoration and placed on static display at the park.[2][12][16]

In 1986, the railroad decided to return the engine to operating condition to help assist WPY No. 192 in excursion service.[2][12][14] The engine was converted back to coal during its restoration and it was eventually returned to service in 1987, now proclaimed as Cinderella; since then, it has hauled excursion trains on the 5-mile track around the theme park.[1][2][12][11][15]

On February 24, 2026, Dollywood officials announced that they would convert Nos. 70 and 192 back to burning oil instead of coal.[17][11] This will enable them to run more in unfavorable conditions and to reduce maintenance and pollution.[17][18] The converted engine returned to steam on March 13 for the opening of the park's 41st season.[19]

Accidents and incidents

  • In 1940, 1951 and 1955, No. 70 was involved in three major accidents while working on the WPY, where it rolled over on its side three separate times.[20] The locomotive would be repaired three separate times after the incidents and would continue service.[20][21]
  • On October 18, 2020, No. 70 was being prepped for service when a grease fire started on the side of the engine.[22][23] The fire was put out quickly and without injuries.[22][23]

Notes

  1. ↑ Attributed to multiple sources:[1][3][4][5][6]
  2. ↑ Attributed to multiple sources:[1][3][5][6][7][8][9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Happy Birthday to Dollywood's Klondike Katie and Cinderella!". dollyparton.com. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Dollywood Express 2-8-2 No. 70". Railfan & Railroad: 46. 1999.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Clifford (1981), p. 47
  4. ↑ Railroadman's Magazine (1971), p. 36
  5. 1 2 3 "Canadian Rail" (PDF). Canadian Rail (543): 4, 15. March 2007. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Martin (1974), p. 54, 64
  7. ↑ "Locomotives Of The White Pass & Yukon Route, Part 17: Shop Switchers". ngslgazette.com. Archived from the original on April 12, 2026. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Locomotives of the White Pass & Yukon Route: Part 6". ngslgazette.com. Archived from the original on April 23, 2026. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  9. 1 2 Smith, Douglas N. W. (November 1957). "News Report - 1957" (PDF). Canadian Rail (83): 7–9. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 30, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2026 – via Exporail.
  10. ↑ "Railroad Historical Almanac" (PDF). Washington, D.C. Chapter National Railway Historical Society. p. 143. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 13, 2026. Retrieved April 11, 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 Franz, Justin (March 10, 2026). "Dollywood Converts Steam Locomotives Back to Oil". Railfan & Railroad. Archived from the original on March 10, 2026. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 J. David Conrad (1988)
  13. ↑ "Smoke & Cylinders" (PDF). Smoke & Cylinders (1083–1606): 5. 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
  14. 1 2 "Theme Park Timelines". Archived from the original on 2006-07-10. Retrieved 2009-12-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  15. 1 2 "Explore the Ohio River Valley". Railfan & Railroad: 13. 2003.
  16. ↑ National Railway Bulletin (2004), p. 30
  17. 1 2 McAlee, Hope (February 25, 2026). "Dollywood Express trains swap coal for oil-fired steam engines". WATE 6 On Your Side. Archived from the original on February 26, 2026. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
  18. ↑ Wilkerson, Greg (February 25, 2026). "Dollywood Express locomotives getting upgrades". The Mountain Press. Archived from the original on April 28, 2026. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Changes to iconic Dollywood Express make debut on opening day". WVLT 8. March 13, 2026. Archived from the original on April 10, 2026. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  20. 1 2 True (1994)
  21. ↑ Railway Carmen's Journal (1944), p. 226
  22. 1 2 Raucoules, Gegory (October 19, 2023). "Historic Dollywood train engine catches fire, no injuries reported". WATE. Archived from the original on April 9, 2026. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  23. 1 2 WLOS Staff (October 19, 2023). "Historic steam engine at Dollywood catches fire". WLOS. Archived from the original on April 18, 2026. Retrieved April 8, 2026.

Bibliography

  • Railway Carmen's Journal. Vol. 49–50. Brotherhood Railway Carmen of the United States and Canada. 1944. p. 226.
  • "All-Time Roster of Locomotives: White Pass & Yukon Route". Railroad Magazine. 67–68. Frank A. Munsey Company: 69. 1955.
  • Martin, Cy (1974). Gold Rush Narrow Gauge: The Story of the White Pass and Yukon Route. Trans-Anglo Books. p. 54, 64. ISBN 978-0-87-046026-5.
  • Transport History. Vol. 10–11. Graphmitre Limited. 1979. p. 38.
  • Clifford, Howard (1981). Rails North: The Railroads of Alaska and the Yukon. Superior Publishing Company. p. 47. ISBN 978-0875645360.
  • National Railway Bulletin. Vol. 69. National Railway Historical Society. 2004. p. 30.
  • Railroadman's Magazine. Vol. 89–90. 1971. p. 36.
  • J. D. True (1987). Along the White Pass High Iron. Northbush Publications. ISBN 0-945284-00-4.
  • J. David Conrad (1988). The Steam Locomotive Directory of North America. Vol. 1–2. Transportation Trails.
  • True, J. D. (1994). It Happened on the White Pass: The Life and Times of a Narrow-Gauge Railway Engineer. Northbush Publications. ISBN 1-896079-02-4.
  • Wilson, Graham (1998). The White Pass and Yukon Route Railway. Wolf Creek Books. ISBN 978-0-96-819552-9.

Further reading

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