A significant piece of St. Thomas’ rich railway heritage, long thought lost, has returned to the city shedding new light on its industrial past. A historic headlight, once belonging to one of two locomotives actually assembled in St. Thomas, is now on display at the CASO Station, a testament to the city’s former prominence as a railway manufacturing hub. The artifact’s journey home was orchestrated by longtime city historian Steve Peters, who recently brought the recovered headlight back to St. Thomas after a lengthy acquisition process. This locomotive light is directly linked to Engine 1290, one of a pair of powerful steam engines built for the Michigan Central Railway (later part of the New York Central system) in St. Thomas. These locomotives, numbered 1290 and 1291, were completed in July and October of 1900, respectively, at the Michigan Central shops located on land south of the M.C.R. mainline. Manufactured as 4-6-0 configuration engines, each tipped the scales at a massive 45 tons and cost approximately $18,537.82. Engine #1290, specifically, weighed 146,700 pounds with 112,900 pounds on its wheels, boasting a wheelbase of 24 feet 7 inches and an overall length of 61 feet 6 inches. These behemoths had a substantial capacity, holding 6,000 gallons of water and 12 tons of coal. Their construction, overseen by Divisional Master Mechanic Mr. Michael Flynn, would have provided steady employment for railway workers at the St. Thomas shops, where building a locomotive from scratch typically took about two years. Originally, Engine 1290 bore the number #449 and was used for passenger service. Both locomotives later served on “way freight trains” along local branches of the Michigan Central and New York Central lines, including the St. Clair and Fort Erie/Niagara Falls branches, serving the rail line between St. Thomas and Courtright (near Sarnia) from their assembly until their final runs. Locomotive 1291 concluded its service on Jan. 15, 1957, followed by Locomotive 1290 on April 27, 1957, after nearly 60 years of operation. As the steam era gave way to diesel locomotives in the late 1950s, both the St. Thomas-built engines were slated for scrapping. According to historical records, Engine 1290 was offered to the city for display, much like Engine 86 which is located in London’s Western Fair District. However, the city leadership at the time declined the offer, and the locomotive was sent to the scrap yard, with an estimated scrap value of $4,928.57. Despite the fate of the locomotives themselves, the headlight from one of them survived. It was given to a railway brakeman and eventually served as a beacon on his dock. Learning of its availability, Steve Peters set his sights on bringing this piece of history back to its origins. “A lot of back and forth,” Peters recounted, describing the headlight’s journey from Peterborough to Grand Bend, and finally, home to St. Thomas about three weeks ago. “The whole intent was to make sure that it was repatriated and became part of the local collection.” The recovered headlight has now found its permanent home on the second floor of the historic CASO Station, the very building that now houses the North America Railway Hall of Fame. The CASO Station, completed in 1873, was instrumental in connecting St. Thomas to a continent-wide rail system, fostering growth and prosperity. Fully restored, it serves as a popular venue for events and houses various business offices, while also offering visitors a glimpse into the past through its exhibits. The North America Railway Hall of Fame was established to promote and raise awareness of significant figures, equipment, and historical pieces within the railway industry across the continent. “The New York Central steam era,” noted Harrison Cole, Vice President of the Elgin County Railway Museum. “There’s only a few locomotives preserved and not a lot of artifacts either. So to have something like this that’s from Saint Thomas in Saint Thomas is amazing.” The headlight will soon be placed in the hands of an electrician to ensure it is safe and in good working order. A suitable light bulb will be installed, along with a dimmer switch, allowing the artifact to be illuminated and appreciated without overwhelming the display space. Cole stated that this artifact will be one of the most prominent pieces in the museum, celebrating a unique chapter in St. Thomas’ industrial legacy. Visitors can explore the CASO Station and learn more about local railway history, including Hall of Fame inductees, during self-guided tours Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
